“Future energy” with reserves far exceeding those of oil and gas, marks a significant step forward in Sino-Russian cooperation.
Many may have heard of combustible ice.
A solid resembling ice that can be set alight.
One cubic meter of combustible ice, when decomposed, releases approximately 160 cubic meters of natural gas—demonstrating exceptionally high energy density.
Massive deposits lie beneath deep-sea floors and Arctic permafrost, with estimated reserves vastly surpassing known oil and natural gas resources. As such, it is widely regarded as a potential treasure of next-generation energy.
Yet despite its promise, large-scale extraction has remained elusive worldwide, due to one fundamental reason: extreme risk and difficulty in control.
Combustible ice consists of methane molecules trapped within water cages, stable only under sustained high pressure and low temperature conditions.
Once equilibrium is disrupted, the ice rapidly dissociates, causing methane gas to expand dramatically.
Additionally, combustible ice acts like an adhesive, binding loose sediments on the seafloor. Its decomposition can lead to immediate loss of structural support, resulting in collapse, well failure, or even large-scale methane leakage.
The industry often uses a vivid analogy: extracting combustible ice is akin to hammering iron on tofu.
In simple terms: gas is not unobtainable—but extracting it risks destabilizing the formation.
Recently, researchers from China University of Petroleum and Perm State University in Russia completed a pivotal experiment, uncovering a new approach to controlled hydraulic fracturing, offering a crucial breakthrough for safe extraction.
To simulate real subsurface conditions, scientists prepared multiple analog samples by mixing quartz sand with combustible ice, creating high- and low-concentration variants. These were subjected to realistic stress environments typical of underground formations, followed by hydraulic fracturing tests monitored via high-precision acoustic sensors, tracking crack initiation, propagation direction, and branching patterns in real time.
An intriguing finding emerged: higher concentrations of combustible ice led to more extensive network-like fracture systems after pressurization. These fine, interconnected fractures serve as efficient pathways for gas release, enhancing production efficiency. Moreover, the gas pressure generated during ice decomposition actively contributes to further crack expansion.
The most critical insight: crack development—its shape, direction, and extent—is directly linked to in-situ stress levels and the abundance of combustible ice.
This enables engineers to predict fracture behavior in advance and actively guide the fracturing process, rather than passively accepting unpredictable formation failure—significantly reducing risks of well collapse and uncontrolled gas leakage.
Upon seeing the news, many may react with excitement: does this mean mass-scale extraction of combustible ice is imminent, potentially replacing fossil fuels?
Crucially, this remains a foundational scientific advancement at the laboratory level—not a commercial-scale operational success.
It addresses the core theoretical challenge of “how to safely create and control fractures, and manage formation breakdown,” providing essential design principles for future offshore and permafrost-based field trials.
From lab-scale experiments to deep-sea drilling and long-term stable production, numerous stages of engineering validation, equipment testing, and cost optimization remain before practical application becomes feasible. The path to utilizing combustible ice for heating and power generation is still long.
Nevertheless, the significance of this breakthrough should not be underestimated.
Combustible ice resources are predominantly located in Arctic permafrost and deep-sea regions—areas of strategic interest to both China and Russia.
This joint research establishes a technological foundation for future collaborative development of this clean energy source.
Oil and gas will eventually deplete. Humanity has continuously sought richer energy alternatives.
This substance buried beneath deep-sea beds and frozen ground has now advanced another small but meaningful step forward.
While it may not swiftly reshape current energy dynamics, each controlled technological milestone brings humanity closer to a sustainable energy future.
(Sources: TASS, official statement from Perm State University; research paper published in the international journal Energy. Collaborating institutions: China University of Petroleum, Perm State Research University.)
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1881699047476235/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.