The steadiness of the flow of combustible ice and the safety with which the extraction was carried out also achieved historic breakthroughs. China has beaten expectations in completing trial explorations of combustible ice in the South China Sea, the report said.
The China Geological Survey will intensify its exploration to provide technical support to industrialize the resource.
Combustible ice is usually found in seabed or tundra areas which have the high pressure and low temperatures needed for the ice to form and continue to exist. It can be ignited like solid ethanol, which is why it is called combustible or flammable ice, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The ice is being extracted at a test site at a depth of 1,266 meters below sea level, 285 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong.
Chinese scientists have made significant achievements in both technological and engineering terms in recent months, including reliable sand contamination prevention, environmental protection, safe and sustainable production, and adjusting gas production capacity, according to news site Chinanews.com.
Currently, more than 30 countries and regions have carried out research into combustible ice, and moderate progress has been made in recent years, people.com.cn reported.
This article was first published in the Global Times.
