The leading office of CAS Action-plan for West Development invited relating experts and held a feasibility demonstration meeting for the project of CAS Action-plan for West Development “the Drilling Project of Natural Gas Hydrate in Permafrost Regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau” which is based at Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI), Chinese Academy of Sciences. The expert group consists of 8 famous experts in relating fields including academicians CHENG Guodong and WANG Jiyang. The bureau deputy director FENG Renguo and the department deputy chief ZHAI Jinliang of Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and Environment, the Party committee secretary and deputy superintendent of CAREERI attended the meeting.

It was noted that this project will investigate the existence proof for the natural gas hydrate in permafrost regions in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by drilling works in chosen places; and will develop physical geography investigation method and geochemistry index system for natural gas hydrate to explore its existence state and mechanism in the plateau. This project will promote the research of natural gas hydrate in permafrost regions, and make the foundation for the development and utilization of natural gas hydrate in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Meanwhile, the carrying out of this project would make instance for the development of marine natural gas hydrate which is significantly important for the optimization of our national new energy mix and the making of national energy policy.

Prof. WU Qingbai, the candidate of the project head, reported the feasibility research of the project and answered the concerning questions.

After reading the materials, hearing the report, the experts discussed and agreed to pass the feasibility demonstration of the project; and suggested to carry out researches quickly.