Hard-to-reach natural gas and oil from deep underground deposits can be extracted through a
process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. This process extracts natural gas and oil by drilling
a well into bedrock (primarily shale) and then injecting fluid under high pressure causing cracks to
form, thereby releasing trapped hydrocarbons that can then be captured. Fracking fluid contains
approximately 85% water and 13% sand (proppant), the latter to prop open cracks, which facilitates
the flow of oil and gas.
United States
