Combustible ice is a crystallized solid created during the interaction between methane and water in a high-pressure, low-temperature environment. It is normally found in continental slope areas and beneath high-latitude permafrost. The total organic carbon reserve in combustible ice is estimated to be two times that contained in today’s known coal, oil, and natural gas reserves, and the resource has the potential to supply thousands of years of human energy needs.
China’s western Qinghai Province, containing major deposits of the country’s “combustible ice,” will see increased explorations for this emerging clean energy.The plateau province plans to allow large energy companies along with researchers to tap this new source of energy while minimizing environmental threats, Luo said on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature.
“Combustible ice,” or natural gas hydrate, is mainly found in deep seas and atop plateaus. Approximately one cubic meter of “combustible ice” equals 164 cubic meters of regular natural gas.
More than 100 countries around the world have found deposits of “combustible ice.” The deposits in Qinghai Province, home to one-quarter of China’s total reserve on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were discovered in September 2009.
“Combustible ice” reserves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are estimated to equal at least 35 billion tonnes of oil, which could supply energy to China for 90 years.
Scientists noted that mining of the “ice” could cause geological disasters, such as slumping. Also, the release of large amounts of methane gas could further aggravate global warming.
Countries including the United States and Japan have major plans to tap “ice” discovered within their own territories. Also, the Republic of Korea recently announced a program to invest 37 million U.S. dollars to drill for “ice” discovered along its eastern coast beginning in April.
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