100 billion tons of oil-grade treasures
Natural gas hydrate is an ice-like crystalline substance formed by water and natural gas under high pressure and low temperature conditions, so it is also called combustible ice, meaning that it can burn ice.
Combustible ice burns high and is clean. Lu Hailong, chief scientist of the trial site command and the China Geological Survey “Li Si Opticsâ€, said that because of the high degree of compression, one cubic meter of combustible ice can decompose and release about 0.8 cubic meters of water and 164 cubic meters of natural gas. . The energy produced by combustion of combustible ice natural gas per cubic meter is 1.43 times that of conventional natural gas, which is obviously higher than that of coal and oil. The combustion pollution is smaller than coal and oil, and it is more clean and environmentally friendly.
The flammable ice resources are abundant, and they are widely distributed in the oceans of the world. The methane content is 60 times that of natural gas resources. The estimated amount of resources is equivalent to twice the total amount of proven fossil fuels in the world.
According to Ye Jianliang, the chief commander of the on-site command and the director of the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, flammable ice is regarded as a strategic alternative energy source for future oil and natural gas, and is the strategic commanding height for global energy development in the future.
The South China Sea is the most important distribution area of ​​China's combustible ice. The national storage of combustible ice resources is equivalent to 100 billion tons of oil, of which 80 billion tons are in the South China Sea. Lu Jingan, head of the Geological Team of the Test Site Command, said that the exploration shows that there are 11 ore bodies in the Shenhu sea area with an area of ​​128 square kilometers and the resource storage capacity is equivalent to 150 million tons of oil reserves.
“Successful trial mining means that these reserves are expected to be converted into valuable energy that can be used, which means that China has opened a treasure with a storage capacity of 100 billion tons of oil,†Lu Jingan said.
Lu Hailong said that according to the current rough estimate of China's use, combustible ice can be used in China for more than one hundred years. At present, the dependence of China's oil on foreign countries exceeds 60%. Combustible ice is also of great significance to China's energy security and economic development.
Behind the success of trial mining, China's marine geologists are catching up in the development of natural gas.
Compared with the international exploration and research of combustible ice in the 1960s, China's flammable ice research started later than 1998, but Chinese scientists and technicians completed the blank from catching up to catch up in 19 years. The whole process.
The "China Program" has multiple far-reaching effects
Successful trial mining will change the energy structure of our country, reverse the situation of multiple coals and less gas, and at the same time take a historic step from “follow-up†to “leading†in the field of energy exploration and development.
Ye Jianliang said that from the development history of combustible ice in various countries around the world, the United States and Canada have conducted land-based test mining, but the effect is not good. Japan’s two trials have failed, that is to say, for the trial mining of combustible ice, there is no mature experience available worldwide.
“We are in the energy or mining sector, from oil and gas to shale gas, including coal mining, all following the foreign technology. This trial success, at least in the short term to achieve the lead.†Ye Jianliang said.
The difficulty of flammable ice mining has been described as “ironing on tofu and embroidering with diamondsâ€.
“The flammable ice has a large reserve and a wide distribution, but it is formed much later than oil and natural gas. The covered seabed is generally sandy. The existing submarine drilling equipment mining will cause a lot of sand and gravel. Pipeline, causing mining failure," Lu Hailong said.
In Japan, two trial mining, although the selection of relatively good coarse sand reservoir flammable ice for mining, but twice due to pipeline sanding was suspended.
The combustible ice mining in the Shenhu area is also difficult. Lu Jingan said that the flammable ice in the Shenhu area is shallow in reservoirs and has limited bearing capacity. It is necessary to ensure the stability of the wells and not to destroy the reservoirs. The selection of engineering measures is small and the construction is difficult. Second, the sand is fine and contains a large amount of mud, resulting in low permeability and reduced production.
The flammable ice test in the Shenhu area is difficult to achieve success, relying on the innovation of "Chinese theory." Qiu Haijun, director of the Office of Test Site Command, said that on the basis of years of exploration and land research, China has taken the lead in establishing the “two-phase and three-type†metallogenic theory of combustible ice in the world, guiding the delineation of the prospecting area and accurately locking it. The test mining target; the establishment of the "three-phase control" mining theory of combustible ice, applied to the trial mining simulation and implementation plan formulation, to ensure that the test mining process is safe and controllable.
The successful technical solution of this trial mining has broad application prospects in China and the world, which has a profound impact on global energy reform. At the same time, it will also contribute to the energy cooperation and development of the “Belt and Road Initiative†initiative.
Lu Hailong said that in the eyes of some international experts, combustible ice will completely change the existing world energy market and may even change the current geopolitical model. 97% of the combustible ice resources are distributed in the ocean, and 90% belong to the muddy silt reservoir, which is also the reservoir type of combustible ice in the Shenhu area.
“This means that after the completion of our technical summary, we will provide assistance for the most flammable ice mining in the world and provide reference for the countries of the world. The “China Program†of this trial has unlimited application prospects.†Lu Hailong Say.
In the world energy revolution brought by combustible ice, if China can continue to maintain the "leading" trend, then China will have the advantage of "one step ahead" and can seize the strategic commanding heights in the future energy pattern.
The successful trial of flammable ice in the Shenhu area will also provide a new growth pole for China's marine economic development and contribute to the implementation of China's maritime power strategy. Ye Jianliang believes that combustible ice not only guarantees national energy security, but also the commercial development of hundreds of billions of tons of oil-grade combustible ice will generate huge economic benefits and provide a powerful driving force for China's marine economic development.
Chinese scientists believe that the "China Program" in global energy will contribute to the development of the "Belt and Road" initiative. “Low-permeability silty reservoir hydrate deposits are widely distributed in countries along the Maritime Silk Road. Many countries have strong demand for combustible ice. We have mastered this technology and will be able to export technology in the future, which will help solve the problem. 'The resources and energy issues along the line will promote the economic development and integration along the 'Belt and Road'." Qiu Haijun said.
When can I use flammable ice?
Since the early 1980s, the world's major resource countries have included the development of combustible ice into the national development strategy. In recent years, a new round of flammable ice exploration and mining in the world, the United States, Japan, India, Germany and other countries will be flammable. Ice resource exploration and development and utilization have been incorporated into its national medium- and long-term energy development plan, and a detailed development roadmap has been prepared.
At present, the countries with active research and development of global combustible ice are mainly China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada and India. Countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia have also developed test mining plans. Japan conducted two test mining operations in the same sea area in 2013 and this year, all of which failed due to sand production problems.
Li Naisheng, an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and director of the Qingdao National Marine Science Research Center, said in an interview that the flaming ice mining has reached a "technically feasible" stage, but in the realization of "economically feasible" There are still some obstacles to overcome in the journey of civilization and commercialization. Mainly how to further reduce mining and transportation costs, and reduce the impact on the surrounding environment of the mine.
Li Naisheng believes that in the future development of combustible ice, it is necessary to further establish the status of combustible ice resources in China's energy strategy, prioritize the preparation of medium and long-term plans for the development of combustible ice; draw on the advanced experience of developed countries, aim at world-class levels, and establish sound mining technologies. Standard and technical systems to enhance the independent research and development capabilities of core technologies.
At the same time, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the climatic, geological and biological impacts that may be induced by combustible ice mining, and propose countermeasures; deepen basic research, find out the principles of mineralization, establish theoretical models in line with China's national realities, and enhance the international status of relevant research in China. .
In the future, the development of flammable ice is still long. According to the judgment of Lu Hailong and others, China's flammable ice must reach the level of commercial development, and it will take 15 to 20 years, that is, after 2030. The current focus is on having sufficient technical capabilities and basic data research, both of which need to be further strengthened.
Abstract At 10 o'clock on May 18, Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming announced on the "Blue Whale No. 1" drilling platform in the Shenhu area of ​​the South China Sea: China's first sea area gas hydrate (also known as "combustible ice") test mining...
At 10 o'clock on May 18, Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming announced on the "Blue Whale No. 1" drilling platform in the Shenhu area of ​​the South China Sea: China's first sea area gas hydrate (also known as "combustible ice") was successfully tested. Chinese science and technology workers have officially opened the door to the "flammable ice age" that has a resource storage capacity equivalent to 100 billion tons of oil. This is a historic breakthrough in China's energy development and has an important and far-reaching impact on the promotion of energy production and consumption revolution.