Flammable Ice (Combustible Ice): Chinese Breakthrough Could Lead To Global Energy Revolution
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cirr
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CIMC Raffles, CPOE to drill for flammable ice in South China Sea
2017-09-28 08:25
Global Times Editor: Li Yan
China International Marine Containers (CIMC) Raffles, a subsidy of CIMC, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with State-owned CNPC Offshore Engineering Co (CPOE) to jointly mine methane hydrates, also known as flammable ice, in the South China Sea, according to a statement on CIMC's website on Wednesday.
The deal was signed in Yantai, East China's Shandong Province. It will allow both sides to promote the global deep-water drilling market, and expand their domestic and overseas offshore engineering businesses.
The companies can pool their advantages, such as CPOE's experience in general contracting management and CIMC Raffles' advantage in equipment building and operation, complement each other and share resources.
CIMC Raffles said at the signing ceremony that it hoped the two companies could establish a long-term communication mechanism, news website thepaper.cn reported.
Since 2013, CIMC Raffles has maintained two types of CNPC drilling platforms - CNPC 61 and CNPC 10. The company delivered the self-elevating drilling platform CNPC 15 in 2015.
In August 2016, the two companies signed a deep-sea drilling platform technical service agreement, providing a guarantee for the country's trial flammable ice project in the South China Sea.
Flammable ice, a frozen mixture of water and gas under high pressure, produces clean fuel that is considered a strategic substitute for fossil fuels and natural gases. It is considered key to China's energy security and energy structure optimization.
In May, China announced that it had for the first time extracted gas from flammable ice and converted it into natural gas in a single, continuous operation on a floating production platform in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea.
The collection of the frozen fuel was "a major breakthrough that could lead to a global energy revolution," said the report.
http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/09-28/275465.shtml
cirr
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Gas hydrate lab gets official nod
2017-12-21 09:14 China Daily Editor: Gu Mengxi
Combustible ice is seen burning on an ultra-deep-water semi-submersible drilling rig near the coast in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, recently. (Photo/Xinhua)
A natural gas hydrate national laboratory under China National Offshore Oil Corporation has been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, as China gains an edge for combustible ice commercial production after sustained trials.
The laboratory should focus primarily on the development of strategic emerging industries in order to enhance the corporation's independent innovation ability and core competitiveness, the ministry said.
Combustible ice is formed under low temperature and high pressure in permafrost under the sea. One cubic meter of the hydrate can release about 160 cu m of gas, but it would emit only half the amount of carbon dioxide produced by oil or coal.
The laboratory should focus on applied basic research and key technology research and development, and come up with a national industry standard while leading and driving technical progress, it said.
China's successful sampling of combustible ice has made headlines in recent months, highlighting China's technological innovations.
It successfully wrapped up its first test exploration of combustible ice, also known as natural gas hydrates, in the South China Sea on July 9, which lasted 60 days, with total production capacity and daily production capacity exceeding 300,000 cu m and 5,000 cu m, respectively.
Lu Hailong, a professor at the Institute of Ocean Research at Peking University and the chief scientist in the first mining trials, said China has accumulated ample experience and has become the front-runner in gas hydrate mining technology in recent years.
"Successful mining of gas hydrate in China is seen as a breakthrough toward a global energy revolution," he said.
Lu said a longer, more productive trial is possible by 2020 in the South China Sea.
Li Jinfa, deputy director of the China Geological Survey, said the South China Sea has an estimated 80 billion metric tons of oil equivalent of gas hydrate reserves. In all, there are 100 billion tons in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and in the South China and East China seas.
China has recently approved listing natural gas hydrate as the country's 173rd mineral variety, a move that will speed up the exploitation of the clean energy source.
No country is yet able to produce gas hydrate commercially due to the challenging conditions and pollution concerns.
According to Jin Qinghuan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, China will complete the initial preparatory work for commercial production by 2020 and begin commercial production by 2030.
Successful trials have given China an edge in mining in silt sand seabed, making it a forerunner in mining for clean energy, he said.
http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/12-21/285278.shtml
2017-12-21 09:14 China Daily Editor: Gu Mengxi
Combustible ice is seen burning on an ultra-deep-water semi-submersible drilling rig near the coast in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, recently. (Photo/Xinhua)
A natural gas hydrate national laboratory under China National Offshore Oil Corporation has been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, as China gains an edge for combustible ice commercial production after sustained trials.
The laboratory should focus primarily on the development of strategic emerging industries in order to enhance the corporation's independent innovation ability and core competitiveness, the ministry said.
Combustible ice is formed under low temperature and high pressure in permafrost under the sea. One cubic meter of the hydrate can release about 160 cu m of gas, but it would emit only half the amount of carbon dioxide produced by oil or coal.
The laboratory should focus on applied basic research and key technology research and development, and come up with a national industry standard while leading and driving technical progress, it said.
China's successful sampling of combustible ice has made headlines in recent months, highlighting China's technological innovations.
It successfully wrapped up its first test exploration of combustible ice, also known as natural gas hydrates, in the South China Sea on July 9, which lasted 60 days, with total production capacity and daily production capacity exceeding 300,000 cu m and 5,000 cu m, respectively.
Lu Hailong, a professor at the Institute of Ocean Research at Peking University and the chief scientist in the first mining trials, said China has accumulated ample experience and has become the front-runner in gas hydrate mining technology in recent years.
"Successful mining of gas hydrate in China is seen as a breakthrough toward a global energy revolution," he said.
Lu said a longer, more productive trial is possible by 2020 in the South China Sea.
Li Jinfa, deputy director of the China Geological Survey, said the South China Sea has an estimated 80 billion metric tons of oil equivalent of gas hydrate reserves. In all, there are 100 billion tons in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and in the South China and East China seas.
China has recently approved listing natural gas hydrate as the country's 173rd mineral variety, a move that will speed up the exploitation of the clean energy source.
No country is yet able to produce gas hydrate commercially due to the challenging conditions and pollution concerns.
According to Jin Qinghuan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, China will complete the initial preparatory work for commercial production by 2020 and begin commercial production by 2030.
Successful trials have given China an edge in mining in silt sand seabed, making it a forerunner in mining for clean energy, he said.
http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/12-21/285278.shtml
TaiShang
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China to push forward flammable ice industrialization
(People's Daily Online) 17:04, January 24, 2018
China will push forward the industrialization of flammable ice development this year, including stepping up construction of the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, said an official with China Geological Survey (CGS) under the Ministry of Land and Resources, China Economic Net reported on Jan. 24.
Survey of shale gas along the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the demonstration project of the exploration of 10 billion cubic meters shale gas west of central China’s Hubei province will also be advanced, said Wang Yan, deputy director of CGS, during a conference.
Exploration of geothermal fields will also be stepped up in major areas such as Beijing, Tianjin, and the new economic zone Xiongan New Area. Oil and natural gas resources in the Tarim Basin and other potentially gas- and oil-rich areas will also be further exploited, Wang said.
Exploration of other resources will also be deepened and key technological issues will be tackled during the process.
All of these actions will be guided by a green principle, Wang said, under which the amount of resources, economic and technological conditions, and environmental impact will be carefully evaluated. Meanwhile, the country’s marine geology surveys will be strengthened.
(People's Daily Online) 17:04, January 24, 2018
China will push forward the industrialization of flammable ice development this year, including stepping up construction of the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, said an official with China Geological Survey (CGS) under the Ministry of Land and Resources, China Economic Net reported on Jan. 24.
Survey of shale gas along the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the demonstration project of the exploration of 10 billion cubic meters shale gas west of central China’s Hubei province will also be advanced, said Wang Yan, deputy director of CGS, during a conference.
Exploration of geothermal fields will also be stepped up in major areas such as Beijing, Tianjin, and the new economic zone Xiongan New Area. Oil and natural gas resources in the Tarim Basin and other potentially gas- and oil-rich areas will also be further exploited, Wang said.
Exploration of other resources will also be deepened and key technological issues will be tackled during the process.
All of these actions will be guided by a green principle, Wang said, under which the amount of resources, economic and technological conditions, and environmental impact will be carefully evaluated. Meanwhile, the country’s marine geology surveys will be strengthened.
cirr
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China invites partners for 'combustible ice' research in S.China Sea
2018-01-25 09:05 Global Times Editor: Li Yan
South China Sea pilot site to be built for 'combustible ice' cooperation
China will establish a pilot site in the South China Sea to speed industrialization of "combustible ice," a field fit for long-term cooperation with other countries, experts said on Wednesday.
"Combustible ice" is a natural gas hydrate (NGH) found in tundra or seabed areas that contains methane. It looks like ice, but when melted or depressurized, it turns into water and natural gas.
"China will speed up industrialization of NGH in 2018, strengthen cooperation with relevant departments and promote the establishment of a pilot site in the South China Sea's Shenhu region. China will also conduct surveys on the environmental evaluation of NGH and organize research and development on core NGH technologies," Wang Yan, deputy director of China Geological Survey at the Ministry of Land and Resources, told a press conference on Tuesday.
China successfully extracted natural gas hydrate in the Shenhu sea region for eight consecutive days from May 10, proving that China was able to stably collect it, according to China Geological Survey.
The gas was extracted at a test site from a depth of 1,266 meters below sea level and 285 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong.
Considering the huge reserves, claimants in the South China Sea issue could focus on natural gas hydrate cooperation and China could offer technological assistance on exploitation, Liu Feng, a Hainan-based expert on the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"Data from geology departments showed that the NGH under the South China Sea could reach the equivalent of 70 billion tons of oil. NGH would also be a new field for countries near the South China Sea to cooperate," he said.
Natural gas hydrate is mainly found in deep-sea sediments or permafrost areas.
It consists of 80 to 99.9 percent methane and produces much less pollution than coal, oil and natural gas when it burns.
As a cleaner energy, natural gas hydrate could ease pressure on China to reduce carbon emissions and help with the global upgrading of energy and economic structures, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University in Fujian Province, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
It would take at least 10 years for China to improve the technology, Lin believed. More research is needed before China could conduct commercial exploitation and use it to replace traditional fossil fuels, he said.
Analysts believe that although China has made breakthroughs extracting NGH, the cost is high and the environmental influence remains unknown.
"Future development of NGH collection should focus on how to commercialize exploitation at a low cost and minimize the impact on the environment," Lin said.
http://www.ecns.cn/2018/01-25/289921.shtml
2018-01-25 09:05 Global Times Editor: Li Yan
South China Sea pilot site to be built for 'combustible ice' cooperation
China will establish a pilot site in the South China Sea to speed industrialization of "combustible ice," a field fit for long-term cooperation with other countries, experts said on Wednesday.
"Combustible ice" is a natural gas hydrate (NGH) found in tundra or seabed areas that contains methane. It looks like ice, but when melted or depressurized, it turns into water and natural gas.
"China will speed up industrialization of NGH in 2018, strengthen cooperation with relevant departments and promote the establishment of a pilot site in the South China Sea's Shenhu region. China will also conduct surveys on the environmental evaluation of NGH and organize research and development on core NGH technologies," Wang Yan, deputy director of China Geological Survey at the Ministry of Land and Resources, told a press conference on Tuesday.
China successfully extracted natural gas hydrate in the Shenhu sea region for eight consecutive days from May 10, proving that China was able to stably collect it, according to China Geological Survey.
The gas was extracted at a test site from a depth of 1,266 meters below sea level and 285 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong.
Considering the huge reserves, claimants in the South China Sea issue could focus on natural gas hydrate cooperation and China could offer technological assistance on exploitation, Liu Feng, a Hainan-based expert on the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"Data from geology departments showed that the NGH under the South China Sea could reach the equivalent of 70 billion tons of oil. NGH would also be a new field for countries near the South China Sea to cooperate," he said.
Natural gas hydrate is mainly found in deep-sea sediments or permafrost areas.
It consists of 80 to 99.9 percent methane and produces much less pollution than coal, oil and natural gas when it burns.
As a cleaner energy, natural gas hydrate could ease pressure on China to reduce carbon emissions and help with the global upgrading of energy and economic structures, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University in Fujian Province, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
It would take at least 10 years for China to improve the technology, Lin believed. More research is needed before China could conduct commercial exploitation and use it to replace traditional fossil fuels, he said.
Analysts believe that although China has made breakthroughs extracting NGH, the cost is high and the environmental influence remains unknown.
"Future development of NGH collection should focus on how to commercialize exploitation at a low cost and minimize the impact on the environment," Lin said.
http://www.ecns.cn/2018/01-25/289921.shtml
Cybernetics
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Summary:
- Project started in 2012
- Ship yard is located in Yantai, Shandong. Utilizes modular construction to speed up process. Previously the specialized steel required to be imported from Japan and Germany, causing delays and high costs, in addition the steel couldn't be customized to specific needs. Now it is produced domestically. @8:05 The breakthrough came from 500km way in Liaoning, Anshan, by research conducted by a female engineer from Ansteel (same company that makes air-craft carrier steel) for 10cm thickness high strength steel. The process uses low temperature forging.
- @13:00 Upper ship body is 20 stories tall and includes: drill tower, well structure, generator, helipad, and living quarters. Total weight: 18,750 tones. Upper and lower module fitting @18:00.
- 3 years to construct, 7000 pieces of steel, 540,000 km of welds, 3 million components.
- Design life span: 25 years, can operate in 95% of the ocean
- Drill depth: >15,000m
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