Fracking in the United States
Fracking is a process used in the United States to get natural gas and oil stored deep in the ground. Natural gas and oil are made up of tiny pieces of rock, sand, and other materials found in rock deep below the surface of the Earth. By using fracking, oil and gas companies can get access to these energy sources faster, easier, and cheaper than drilling a deep hole in the ground.
To do fracking, companies first drill a long, vertical pipe that goes down into the ground very, very deep, past any water sources. Then they make a turn with the pipe at the bottom and drill horizontally. After that, a liquid that is mostly water, but also has some sand and other materials, is pumped at a very high pressure through the pipe. This mixture breaks apart the rock and opens up large cracks, or fractures, in the rock. Now the natural gas and oil that is trapped inside the rock can escape through the fractures and up the pipe to where the company can collect it.
Because of fracking, the United States has been able to get access to more of these energy sources, which helps the economy and keeps energy prices low.
To do fracking, companies first drill a long, vertical pipe that goes down into the ground very, very deep, past any water sources. Then they make a turn with the pipe at the bottom and drill horizontally. After that, a liquid that is mostly water, but also has some sand and other materials, is pumped at a very high pressure through the pipe. This mixture breaks apart the rock and opens up large cracks, or fractures, in the rock. Now the natural gas and oil that is trapped inside the rock can escape through the fractures and up the pipe to where the company can collect it.
Because of fracking, the United States has been able to get access to more of these energy sources, which helps the economy and keeps energy prices low.