China successfully mines gas hydrates

China has successfully mined flammable ice, or natural gas hydrates, at the Shenhu area of the South China Sea.

Image from iStock

The mining of gas hydrates marks a major breakthrough that could lead to a global energy revolution, says China’s Minister of Land and Resources Jiam Daming.

China first encountered natural gas hydrates in the South China Sea in 2007.  According to the ministry, international scientific circles have predicted that natural gas hydrate is the best replacement for oil and natural gas.

Natural gas hydrates are a naturally occurring, ice-like combination of natural gas and water that are found in the world’s oceans and polar regions. In 2016, large producible quantities of gas hydrates were encountered offshore India in the Bay of Bengal.

Read More:

Large producible hydrates found off India

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