[TheRealThing]

Vector, I don't know what makes you think anyone can guess what point you may be trying to make by posting the link for an article of the length and scope of this one. I did notice in the article that naturally occuring fractures exist in the the Devonian-age shale deposits of Marcellus shale, which underlys Kentucky and West Virginia. All fracking does is create more of these fractures. (see paragraphs below) The liberal sky-is-falling crowd, has raised more of the same old resistance to the use of naturally occuring fuels we are blessed with but, are discouraged from using because of imaginary, earth destroying consequences, they have dreamed up.

Horizontal Drilling to Penetrate More Fractures---
The fractures (also known as "joints") in the Marcellus Shale are vertical. So, a vertical borehole would be expected to intersect very few of them. However, a horizontal well, drilled perpendicular to the most common fracture orientation should intersect a maximum number of fractures.

Increase the Number of Fractures---
A second method is used to increase the productivity of a well. That is to increase the number of fractures in a well using a technique known as "hydraulic fracturing" or "hydrofracing". This method uses high-pressure water or a gel to induce fractures in the rock surrounding the well bore.