But that's exactly how 'frackers' start out drilling a vertical hole some 10,000 ft or so, then change to horizontal and gain enough penetration into the shale deposit to then make 'fracking' the area productive.

Title of article is subtly revealing.
3D printing could "revolutionise" war and foreign policy
If the American colonists had an advantage over the British, imagine how 3d printing can narrow technology gaps for a revolutionary force.