Directional drilling is a technique used in the oil and gas industry to drill wells at various angles rather than just straight down. This method allows drillers to reach resources that are located far from the drilling site, minimizing surface disruption and maximizing resource extraction. By using specialized equipment, directional drilling can navigate around obstacles and access multiple targets from a single location. This approach is also beneficial for environmental protection, as it reduces the number of drilling sites needed, thereby preserving more land and reducing the impact on local ecosystems.