A domestic research team has developed a technology to efficiently extract undersea natural gas.

A team led by Professor Lee Heun at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said that it developed the technology in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources.

The researchers injected exhaust fumes from vehicles and factories into natural gas hydrate deposits under the sea before extracting only natural gas and storing carbon dioxide and nitrogen under the sea semi-permanently.

The researchers said that the technology is environment-friendly and highly economical.

The researchers have submitted an application for a patent in the U.S. and Japan as well as South Korea.