China has extracted about 210,000 cu m of natural gas from combustible¹ ice in the South China Sea, the Guangzhou Marine² Geological Bureau said last Saturday.

广州海洋地质调查局上周六表示，我国已在南海从可燃冰中开采出约21万立方米的天然气。

A month has passed since tests on extracting combustible ice began in waters near the Pearl River estuary³, according to the bureau.

该局介绍称，珠江口附近海域的可燃冰试开采工作已“满月”。

"The process of gas production is smooth, and we are laying the foundation for the next step," a statement issued by the bureau said.

该局发布的的通报表示：“目前产气过程平稳，为下一步工作奠定了基础。”

Ye Jianliang, head of the bureau, said strict measures have been taken to protect the environment.

广州海洋地质调查局局长叶建良表示，试开采采取了严格的环境保护措施。

"We are monitoring the air, sea water, seabed and the exploration equipment. We also closely follow the amount of methane⁴ and carbon dioxide," he said, adding that no pollution to the environment or geological hazards had happened so far.

他表示：“我们对大气、海水、海底和勘探设备进行监测，还密切关注甲烷量和二氧化碳量。”他补充说道，截至目前没有造成环境污染、未发生地质灾害。

One cubic meter of combustible ice, a kind of natural gas hydrate, is equal to 164 cu m of regular natural gas.

可燃冰是一种天然气水合物，1立方米的可燃冰相当于164立方米的常规天然气。

International scientists have predicted that natural gas hydrate is the best replacement⁵ for oil and natural gas.

据国际科学家预测，天然气水合物是石油、天然气的最佳替代品。