'Combustible ice' lab approved by ministry

A key laboratory for natural gas hydrate under the China National Offshore Oil Corporation was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Dec 19.

Key national laboratories at corporations are an essential part of the country's innovation system, and the laboratories should primarily focus on development of strategic emerging industries to enhance corporations' independent innovation ability and core competitiveness, the ministry said.

The laboratory should focus on the applied basic research and key technology research and development, and come up with a national industry standard while leading and driving industry technical progress, it said.

The successful sampling of combustible ice has made headlines in recent months, highlighting China's technological innovations.

China completed its first test exploration of natural gas hydrates, commonly known as combustible ice, in the South China Sea on July 9. The test lasted 60 days, with total production capacity and daily production capacity exceeding 300,000 cubic meters and 5,000 cu m, respectively.

It has approved listing natural gas hydrate, or combustible ice, as the country's 173rd mineral variety, a move that will speed up the exploitation of the clean energy source, an official said Thursday.