Gas Hydrate Brief Description

Natural gas hydrate, also known as “combustible ice”, is an ice-like white crystalline solid formed by the combination of water and natural gas (mainly methane gas) under low temperature and high pressure conditions. It is mainly found in permafrost and marine sediments. Among them, gas hydrate, a strategic resource that is considered to be the most commercially exploited prospect in the 21st century, has the characteristics of high energy density, wide distribution, large scale, shallow burial, and good materialization conditions. The total resources are huge, about the same as The world knows twice the total amount of coal, oil, and natural gas. According to experts' estimation, the natural gas hydrate resources can meet the needs of mankind for 1000 years. Its large reserves and wide distribution area are rare human energy sources in the future.

The technology researched and developed by China's prospecting and scientific research departments, and which has used directional drilling technology and drilling butt joint for many years, is in the leading position in the world, which has extremely important significance for the exploration of combustible ice. It is now known that the South China Sea, like many other sea areas in the world, has an extremely rich methane resource on the sea floor. The total amount exceeds half of the total natural gas that is known to be buried underground in China.

From the perspective of combustible ice composition, natural gas hydrate is a kind of crystal. In the crystal, 8 cages are built for every 46 water molecules, and each cage can accommodate one CH4 molecule or one free H2O molecule.

When flammable ice was discovered, it immediately attracted the attention of all countries in the world. So far, there have been discoveries in the sea along the continental margin (marginal) of various continents. In addition, a large number of long-term permafrost zones along the Arctic Sea are also found in North America. However, the exploitation of natural gas hydrates along the coast of the continental margin is very difficult. At present, there are no mature methods for exploration and development. Once a blowout accident occurs, vaporization of seawater will occur, and tsunami waves will occur.

In addition, even the smallest damage or even natural damage to this kind of mineral deposit is enough to cause a large amount of methane gas to be lost, so that the greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere will increase drastically, and the consequences will be disastrous. At the turn of the century, in front of a treasure house of new energy, people have to be cautious? ? ? Can anyone be sure that it is not Pandora's box? If you open it, you can't close it?