China is estimated to have 80 billion tons of oil equivalent combustible ice, the country's Ministry of Land and Resources said Friday.

Li Jinfa, deputy director of the China Geological Survey under the ministry, made the statement at a press conference on China's first successful mining of combustible ice at sea.

Photo taken on May 16, 2017 shows the flames spouting from the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. /Xinhua Photo

China announced its success on May 18 after collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea after nearly two decades of research and exploration, a major breakthrough that may lead to a global energy revolution.

Combustible ice usually exists in the seabed or tundra areas, which have the strong pressure and low temperature necessary for its stability. It is also flammable, like solid ethanol.

How big the volume?

One cubic meter of combustible ice, a natural gas hydrate, is equal to 164 cubic meters of regular natural gas. International scientific circles have predicted that the natural gas hydrate is the best replacement for oil and natural gas.

"So far, trial mining of combustible ice in the Shenhu sea, about 320 kilometers southeast of the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, has made smooth progress with an average of 8,350 cubic meters of gas with high purity extracted each day," Li said.

How to explore?

He said China would accelerate the exploration of potential combustible ice reserves, launch trial mining of different types of combustible ice, and continue to strengthen marine science and technology innovation.

In addition, China will make environment protection a top priority during the trial mining and strive to achieve green exploration and exploitation, he said.

Natural gas hydrate is an efficient, abundant and clean energy source and is also strategically important for future global energy development, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council said in a congratulatory letter last month.

The success marks a historic breakthrough after nearly two decades of continuous efforts and independent innovations by China in theory, technology, engineering and equipment for natural gas hydrate exploration and exploitation, according to the letter.

It is a great technological breakthrough in accessing the deep sea, deep-sea exploration and exploitation, said the letter.

(Source: Xinhua)‍