Doors to hell

China plans to exploit the large reserve of “combustible ice” on the tundra of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau which was discovered last year. The new reserves found in China reveal a very large supply equal at least 35 billion tonnes of oil, enough to supply China with 90 years worth of energy.

“Combustible ice” is essentially frozen natural gas – a natural gas hydrate. Natural gas hydrates are essentially just frozen methane and water and can literally be lit on fire bringing a whole new meaning to fire and ice. Researchers still need to get a better understanding of how best to handle the fuel, for it to be commercially exploited.

Researchers expect that the hydrate will have to go through a phase change and melt it into methane and water before it can be efficiently combusted. If left to melt on its own as the earth warms though, methane could be released into the atmosphere, and it could cause even more damage than if it were just burned. Which is why it is so essential to keep the Arctic permafrost from melting (it has tons of hydrate buried).


Meanwhile, for just an idea of how inflammable natural gas found in the earth’s belly can be, check out the picture above. The glow that can be seen from miles around in the desert of Turkmenistan is natural gas afire.

Dubbed by locals the "Door to Hell" this seemingly natural wonder is actually man-made. Apparently, during the 1970s, when Turkmenistan was part of the USSR, Soviet geologists were sent into the desert to explore for natural gas, which can often be detected seeping through the sand. While drilling in one such spot, the geologists happened upon a large, cavernous space full of poisonous gas, which promptly swallowed their equipment. Hoping to burn off the excess gas, (not expecting the kind of reserve), the geologists set it ablaze--and 35 years later, it's still burning. Fuel wasted, plus emissions!

Serves as a reminder of how little we still know of our home planet even as we set out to find new energy sources.