Natural Gas Drilling
The Han dynasty was famous for its salt trade. Advances like the iron tipped bamboo rods were used to extract bring that would then be carried via piping to salt works, where it would be boiled. There was only one small problem: workers would mysteriously get weak, sick, lie down, and die. This would happen at salt drilling spots. Eventually, the Chinese began to realize that “evil spirits” were coming out of these holes, and would visit these wells bringing gifts to protect themselves against the invisible foe. The Han Dynasty’s way of using and controlling natural gas was an amazing advancement to the technology of the time.
The way the Chinese discovered the practicalities of natural gas was through explosions and experimentation. The Chinese noticed that these “evil spirits” would sometimes cause huge explosions, causing many deaths of mine workers. These salt mine workers also realized that if they set fire to the holes where the “evil spirits” lived, that they could cook with it. Thus, the discovery of natural gas. Using the invention of bamboo piping, natural gas was brought to the salt works, where it was used to boil the brine and create salt. The Han were very clever in the way they captured this invisible gas. They built bamboo pipes by slitting them in half, hollowing them out, then lining them with mud and salt brine, and gluing and tying them back together. The fact that the Han could use such simple materials to carry one of the most dangerous substances known to man is amazing, and shows the many advancements in technology they made to be able to do this. The way the Han used this invention to carry natural gas to their salt works was amazing. The way that they used the gas was also an amazing new idea. This was the first documented use of natural gas, and bamboo piping. The discovery had many impacts, including increased economic growth. The Chinese found it impractical to trade heavy salt, and instead used it to salt fish to trade, as the salt would help the fish last longer. This also helped them on long journeys, as they could take salted food with them.
The Han discovery of natural gas has helped us today as we drill for natural gas, and the premises that they used to build their piping are also still used today. The Han Dynasty’s discovery of this amazing substance has given them a world acclaimed legacy that has lasted many centuries, and continues to this day. The fact that the Han had accomplished this amazing feat with just bamboo and mud only adds to our amazement.