CHINA SUCCESSFULLY EXTRACT `COMBUSTIBLE ICE` FROM SEA FLOOR
BEIJING • In the six weeks since China announced its first success in collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea, it has extracted more than 235,000 cubic m of gas hydrate off the coast of Guangdong province, according to the China Geological Survey. "China has beaten expectations in completing the trial explorations of combustible ice using local innovations in technology and engineering," said Mr Ye Jianliang, who heads the Guangzhou Marine Geology Survey. "It marks a historic breakthrough." Technically known as methane hydrate, combustible ice is a frozen fossil fuel that energy-guzzling China hopes to exploit to meet growing demand. Once extracted, 1 cubic m of gas hydrate releases 164 cubic m of conventional natural gas, according to the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Methane is extracted by heating or reducing the pressure inside the well to break down the hydrates. China discovered combustible ice in the South China...