hydraulic fracturing

noun

1. a process in which fractures in rocks below the earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure: used especially to extract natural gas or oil.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydraulic fracturing¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

In a note of particular concern to some in the state, he raised doubts about whether Harris would continue to allow hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, to extract oil and gas.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, with hydraulic fracturing, a technique that is used to break underground rocks with pressurized liquids for extracting oil and gas, a deep rock formation that previously didn't have any detectable number of microbes might have a sudden bloom of microbial activity.

From Science Daily

That process is called hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking.

From Seattle Times

That brackish water is a crucial component in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and advanced drilling techniques that have helped turn New Mexico into the No. 2 oil production state in the U.S.

From Seattle Times

To further investigate the relevance of the lab experiments for earthquakes in geological reservoirs, the authors compiled a wide range of datasets of induced seismicity studying the emitted energy as a function of hydraulic energy from laboratory-scale and in-situ fluid injection experiments, as well as from reservoir-scale hydraulic fracturing, from geothermal and waste-water disposal projects around the world.

From Science Daily