Central Energy Resources Science Center - Gas Hydrates Project Page
Gas hydrates are naturally occurring ice-like combinations of natural gas and water that have the potential to provide an immense resource of natural gas from the world's oceans and polar regions. Gas hydrates are known to be widespread in permafrost regions and beneath the sea in sediments of outer continental margins. It is generally accepted that the volume of natural gas contained in the world's gas hydrate accumulations greatly exceeds that of known gas reserves. There is also growing evidence that natural gas can be produced from gas hydrates with existing conventional oil and gas production technology. The USGS is participating in several international consortia of research, industry, and academic institutions. The USGS also has ongoing cooperative research efforts with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the State of Alaska, the Department of Energy, industry, and Native Alaskan corporations to further the understanding of gas the hydrate endowment and recoverability.
For a listing of our completed expeditions click here to visit the Related Science tab.
USGS Links
USGS Gas Hydrate Project
Woods Hole Science Center
USGS Scientists contribute to new gas hydrates monograph
External Links
DOE Methane Hydrate R&D Program
NETL Methane Hydrate Web Site
NETL Fire in the Ice Newsletter
US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Current Perspectives on Gas Hydrate Resources
Gas Hydrate and Climate Change
World Atlas of Submarine Gas Hydrates in Continental Margins | SpringerLink
Tasks and Field Reports
Results of the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311
Below are publications associated with this project.
Gas-hydrate-bearing sand reservoir systems in the offshore of India: Results of the India National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02
Processing of multichannel seismic reflection data acquired in 2013 for seismic investigations of gas hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico
Characterization of gas hydrate distribution using conventional 3D seismic data in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea
Prospecting for marine gas hydrate resources
Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 report
Reservoir controls on the occurrence and production of gas hydrates in marine and Arctic permafrost settings
Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: results of the National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01
Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: Krishna-Godavari Basin, Mahanadi Basin, Andaman Sea, Kerala-Konkan Basin
Geological controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate from core, downhole log, and seismic data in the Shenhu area, South China Sea
Methane hydrates in nature - Current knowledge and challenges
Gas hydrate identified in sand-rich inferred sedimentary section using downhole logging and seismic data in Shenhu area, South China Sea
Cruise report for P1-13-LA, U.S. Geological Survey gas hydrates research cruise, R/V Pelican April 18 to May 3, 2013, deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Exploring Gas Hydrates as a Future Energy Source
In the past decade, the development of the Barnett, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, and other shales has dominated the national consciousness regarding natural gas. But in Alaska, another form of natural gas has been the focus of research for decades—methane hydrate.
Central Energy Resources Science Center - Gas Hydrates Project Page
Gas hydrates are naturally occurring ice-like combinations of natural gas and water that have the potential to provide an immense resource of natural gas from the world's oceans and polar regions. Gas hydrates are known to be widespread in permafrost regions and beneath the sea in sediments of outer continental margins. It is generally accepted that the volume of natural gas contained in the world's gas hydrate accumulations greatly exceeds that of known gas reserves. There is also growing evidence that natural gas can be produced from gas hydrates with existing conventional oil and gas production technology. The USGS is participating in several international consortia of research, industry, and academic institutions. The USGS also has ongoing cooperative research efforts with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the State of Alaska, the Department of Energy, industry, and Native Alaskan corporations to further the understanding of gas the hydrate endowment and recoverability.
For a listing of our completed expeditions click here to visit the Related Science tab.
USGS Links
USGS Gas Hydrate Project
Woods Hole Science Center
USGS Scientists contribute to new gas hydrates monograph
External Links
DOE Methane Hydrate R&D Program
NETL Methane Hydrate Web Site
NETL Fire in the Ice Newsletter
US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Current Perspectives on Gas Hydrate Resources
Gas Hydrate and Climate Change
World Atlas of Submarine Gas Hydrates in Continental Margins | SpringerLink
Tasks and Field Reports
Results of the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311
Below are publications associated with this project.
Gas-hydrate-bearing sand reservoir systems in the offshore of India: Results of the India National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02
Processing of multichannel seismic reflection data acquired in 2013 for seismic investigations of gas hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico
Characterization of gas hydrate distribution using conventional 3D seismic data in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea
Prospecting for marine gas hydrate resources
Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 report
Reservoir controls on the occurrence and production of gas hydrates in marine and Arctic permafrost settings
Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: results of the National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01
Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: Krishna-Godavari Basin, Mahanadi Basin, Andaman Sea, Kerala-Konkan Basin
Geological controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate from core, downhole log, and seismic data in the Shenhu area, South China Sea
Methane hydrates in nature - Current knowledge and challenges
Gas hydrate identified in sand-rich inferred sedimentary section using downhole logging and seismic data in Shenhu area, South China Sea
Cruise report for P1-13-LA, U.S. Geological Survey gas hydrates research cruise, R/V Pelican April 18 to May 3, 2013, deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Exploring Gas Hydrates as a Future Energy Source
In the past decade, the development of the Barnett, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, and other shales has dominated the national consciousness regarding natural gas. But in Alaska, another form of natural gas has been the focus of research for decades—methane hydrate.