hydraulic fracturing

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of hydraulic fracturing

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Much of that growth came from unconventional drilling, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling from geologic formations such as shale rock.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 16, 2026

The company, which uses hydraulic fracturing technology to tap the earth’s heat, now has larger projects in the works, including one in Utah that is slated to start producing power this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

New technologies such as hydraulic fracturing have turned it from major importer to exporter.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

The first reports indicated that the earthquakes were too deep to be induced and were not close to any hydraulic fracturing operations, which typically cause induced earthquakes in the region.

From Science Daily • Dec. 13, 2023

The advent of high-volume hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling miles deep in the ground over the past two decades transformed the United States into a worldwide oil and gas superpower.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023