Geohazards associated with the occurrence of gas hydrates in nature are generally classified as “naturally occurring” geohazards that emerge wholly from geologic processes and “operational” geohazards that may be triggered by human activity. As a “naturally occurring” geohazard, the presence of gas hydrate increases the mechanical strength of the sediment within which it resides. However, the dissociation of gas hydrate releases free gas and excess pore water, which may substantially reduce the geomechanical stability of the affected sediment. In comparison to most conventional hydrocarbon accumulations, gas hydrates occur at relatively shallow depths, representing a hazard to shallow drilling and well completions.
International and European Conference on Gas Hydrates 2026
ICGH-ECGH 2026 June-July 2026
The International & European Conference on Gas Hydrates (ICGH‑ECGH 2026), held in Lyon, France from 29 June to 3 July 2026, brought together the global gas‑hydrate research community for a joint meeting of ICGH11 and ECGH3. The conference highlighted advances in fundamental hydrate science, natural system dynamics, geo‑engineering, carbon‑capture technologies, and planetary applications, fostering collaboration and spotlighting emerging developments. As part of the meeting, Dr. Tim Collett (USGS, Central Energy Resource Center) delivered a technical review addressing gas‑hydrate‑related geohazards affecting oil and gas operations in Arctic permafrost regions and deep‑marine environments.
Session 4.5. General Geoscience
Presentation: Gas Hydrate Geohazard Challenges - Infrastructure Concerns
Presentation
Gas Hydrate Geohazard Challenges – Infrastructure Concerns
Abstract
Gas hydrate geohazard challenges – infrastructure concerns
Timothy S. Collett
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, tcollett@usgs.gov
Gas hydrates—solid crystalline compounds of water and gas, primarily methane—are increasingly recognized as an industrial geohazard associated with oil and gas operations. While much research has focused on their energy potential and environmental implications, this review addresses hazards directly linked to human activities. Geohazards are natural conditions that pose significant risks or result in additional operational costs. Industrial hydrate-related hazards occur in both deepwater and permafrost settings and generally pose risks to drilling operations and industry infrastructure, including the production of conventional oil and gas resources through wells that have also penetrated gas hydrate accumulations.
Gas hydrates pose drilling challenges similar to those encountered in free gas and overpressured sand-rich sedimentary sections. In general, industry and engineering-related drilling have shown that controlling drilling fluid temperatures and mud weights can effectively mitigate the dissociation of low-saturation shale-hosted hydrates. However, free gas accumulations beneath thick, highly concentrated hydrate-bearing sands represent significant hazards to both drilling and production operations. Long-term production of relatively warm hydrocarbons through overlying hydrate-bearing sediments can induce thermal stresses, leading to hydrate dissociation and weakening of the sediment. This may lead to well-casing failures and/or create conduits for gas migration outside the wellbore.
Remediation of gas hydrate-related hazards often deals with preventing hydrate dissociation or promoting controlled dissociation. Both involve regulating mud weight, using drilling fluid additives, and/or controlling drilling fluid temperatures. Scientific drilling programs in terrestrial environments typically employ drilling mud (fluid) cooling systems to limit gas hydrate dissociation during drilling and coring operations. In deepwater marine environments, controlled drilling protocols have been developed to deal with both drilling and well-completion concerns. This presentation will include a systematic review of specific drilling and/or conventional oil and gas production challenges associated with gas hydrates, as well as an analysis of various operational intervention techniques used to address gas hydrate-related geohazard concerns.
Industrial geohazards related to gas hydrates pose significant challenges for safe oil and gas operations. Effective hazard management requires precise thermal and pressure control, robust detection methods, and comprehensive monitoring strategies. As interest in deep marine and Arctic energy resources continues to grow, addressing these risks will be critical for safe and sustainable development.
Collett, T.S., 2026, Gas hydrate geohazard challenges – infrastructure concerns: Proceedings of the International and European Conference on Gas Hydrates 2026 (ICGH-ECGH 2026), Lyon, France, June 29 - July 3, 2026, p. 58. https://icgh-ecgh-2026.sciencesconf.org/data/pages/Session_4.pdf
Gas Hydrate Geohazards – References
Boswell, R., Collett, T.S., Dallimore, S., and Frye, M., 2012, Geohazards associated with naturally occurring gas hydrate: Fire-In-The-Ice Methane Hydrate Newsletter, US Department of Energy, v. 12, no. 1, p. 11-15. https://www.netl.doe.gov/node/7005
Collett, T.S., Bahk, J.J., Frye, M., Goldberg, D., Husebø, J., Koh, C., Malone, M., Ship, C., Torres, M., Myers, G., Divins, D., and Morell, M., 2013, Methane Hydrate Field Program: Development of a Scientific Plan for a Methane Hydrate-Focused Marine Drilling, Logging and Coring Program: Report prepared by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Washington, DC 20005 for U.S. Department of Energy: U.S. Department of Energy Topical Report, 70 p. https://netl.doe.gov/node/7543
Collett, T.S. and Dallimore, S.R., 2002, Detailed analysis of gas hydrate induced drilling and production hazards: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Gas Hydrates, Yokohama, Japan, May 19–23, p. 47–52. ICGH 2006 Collett_Dallimore Hazard Report
Crutchley, G.J., Gorman, A.R., Fohrmann, M., 2010, Investigation of the role of gas hydrates in continental slope stability west of Fiordland, New Zealand: J. Geol. Geophys., v. 50, p. 357–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288300709509842
Hadley, C., Peters, D., Vaughan, A., and Bean, D., 2008, Gumusut-Kakap Project: geohazard characterization and impact on field development plans: Proceedings of the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 2008. doi: https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-12554-MS
McConnell, D., Zhang, Z., and Boswell, R., 2012, Review of progress in evaluating gas hydrate drilling hazards; Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 34, Issue 1, p. 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.02.010
Gas Hydrates