Professor Ning committed to the study of mining gas hydrates

Professor Ning Fulong speaks with his teammates in a laboratory at the China University of Geosciences. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"It is a challenging but worthwhile task for me to concentrate on the study of mining gas hydrates," said Ning Fulong, a professor with the Faculty of Engineering at the China University of Geosciences (CUG), during an interview on September 20.

Build efficient evaluation models for trial exploration of flammable ice

According to Ning, mining gas hydrates are a crystal compound formed by natural gas and water under high pressure and low temperatures. He said that scientists and engineers should build evaluation models to support their analytical studies of the reservoir properties of flammable ice, and explore it in a secure, efficient and controllable way.

In the past, it often took scientists more than 20 days to complete a string of experimental procedures in the midst of figuring out the reservoir properties of underground flammable ice.

At present, Ning and his study group have successfully shortened the time to one day, using their self-developed rapid evaluation mechanical technology.

Ning has led his study group to create analytical and evaluation models in the measurement of dynamic response within the reservoir layers. Their latest findings have achieved the comprehensive assessment of production capacity, sand production and the stability of reservoir layers and have been applied in the trial exploration of mining gas hydrates in the South China Sea.

Dedicated to lab research

Under the guidance of his doctoral supervisors, Ning started to take part in the study of flammable ice in around 2000.

He successfully produced artificial samples of flammable ice in 2005. At that time, there were no more than three laboratories with the scientific capabilities to conduct the relevant research.

It wasn’t until 2016 that Ning received a sample of mining gas hydrates formed in a natural environment. Later, he and his study conducted in-depth analytical testing and found reliable information to support relevant trial exploration activities.

When asked about whether he has ever felt lonely during his laboratory studies, Ning said that he has never experienced the feeling because it is difficult for any scientist to get a sample of mineral resources, and they have all used simulation experiments to conduct predictive research, as well as test and verify the feasibility of their findings.

The study group of Ning has collaborated with over 10 institutes at home and abroad in the research and development of multi-dimensional simulation experimental systems of flammable ice. Their invention has received more than 20 patent rights in China, the US, the Netherlands and Russia.

Ning said that he is delighted to take part in scientific research, though many basic studies cannot bring about tangible benefits to society and some scientists never personally see how their findings transform society.