Abstract:
The study of gas hydrates in nature has been ongoing for over 40 years. Significant strides have been made in our understanding of the occurrence, distribution, and characteristics of marine and permafrost associated gas hydrates. Numerous field studies have shown that the potential amount of gas stored as gas hydrates in the world greatly exceeds the volume of known conventional gas resources. Gas hydrate research in recent years has focused on: (1) documenting the geologic parameters that control the occurrence and stability of gas hydrates in nature, (2) assessing the volume of natural gas stored within various gas hydrate accumulations, (3) analyzing the production response and related characteristics of gas hydrates, (4) identifying and predicting natural and induced environmental and climate impacts of natural gas hydrates, and (5) analyzing the effects of gas hydrate on drilling safety.