Figure 1 Shale gas map from the IEA report
World Energy Outlook 2012, © OECD/IEA 2012
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique for extracting natural gas. A well is drilled in shale and used to inject water, sand and other chemicals at high pressure. This creates fractures in the rock and increases the flow of natural gas into the well.
Fracking has revolutionised the energy situation in the USA over the last few years and there has been interest in the UK as to whether it could do the same here. As physicists we should have an informed view about what fracking is, and the pros and cons of using it to supply our energy.
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