Fracturing

Fracturing, often called hydraulic fracturing or fracking, is a process used to extract oil and natural gas from underground rock formations. It involves injecting high-pressure fluid—mainly water, sand, and chemicals—into the rock to create cracks. These cracks allow the trapped hydrocarbons to flow more freely into production wells. The technique enhances resource recovery from otherwise hard-to-reach reservoirs. Fracturing is a common method in the energy industry, but it also involves careful management of environmental and safety considerations due to the chemicals used and the potential for underground water contamination or seismic activity.