The technological advancement that has increased U.S. natural gas production is horizontal drilling.

Horizontal drilling, often combined with hydraulic fracturing (fracking), has revolutionized natural gas production in the U.S. This technique allows drillers to access natural gas trapped in tight rock formations, such as shale, by drilling vertically and then extending horizontally through the rock layers. This method significantly increases the amount of gas that can be extracted from a single well, making previously inaccessible reserves economically viable. Horizontal drilling has been a key driver of the U.S. shale gas boom, boosting domestic energy production and reducing reliance on imports.