Projects:
        DOE/NETL Projects : These pages contain detailed information on methane hydrate projects funded
        through the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Publications:
        Newsletter | Bibliography | Software | Reports | Program Publications | Photo Gallery

Newsletter:
        Fire in the Ice:  A quarterly publication highlighting the National Methane Hydrate R&D Program

Bibliography:
        "Project Reports Bibliography"[PDF]:  The bibliography lists publications resulting from DOE/NETL-sponsored
        methane hydrate R&D projects.

Graduate Fellowship Program:
        Methane Hydrate Graduate Fellowship Program - NETL has launched an academic research fellowship
         program to support qualified postgraduate students in their pursuit of advanced degrees related to
         methane hydrate science.

Modeling/Software:

• ToughFX/Hydrate, PetraSim, HydrateResSim (HRS)
• Methane Hydrate Reservoir Simulator Code Comparison Study - An International Effort to Compare Methane Hydrate Reservoir Simulators

About Methane Hydrates:
The Methane Hydrates Primer provides background and general information about the history of hydrate R&D, the science of methane hydrates, their occurrences, and R&D related issues.

Photo Gallery:
The "Photo Gallery" provides pictures from six research locations, including the Alaska North Slope, the Gulf of Mexico, Blake Ridge, and the Mallik well in the MacKenzie Delta.

Reports: Visit the Methane Hydrates projects webpages to see a complete listing of projects. The project pages contain complete descriptions of each project along with a more comprehensive listing of reports and publications.

• May, 2012: Final Project Report NT42960 Detedtion and Production of Methane Hydrate [PDF-12.3MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0006558 Integrating Natural Gas Hydrates in the Global Carbon Cycle [PDF-16.8MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report DE-FC26-06NT43067 Mechanisms Leading to Co-existence of Gas and Hydrate in Ocean Sediments [PDF-47.4MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005668 Gas Hydrate Characterization in the Gulf of Mexico Using Marine EM Methods [PDF-29.7MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005666 Characterization of Methane Degradation and Methane-Degrading Microbes in Alaska Coastal Waters [PDF-479KB]
• February, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005638 Remote Sensing and Sea-Truth Measurements of Methane Flux to the Atmosphere [PDF-5.65MB]
• August, 2011: Semi-Annual Report DE-NT0006553 Gas Hydrate Productiion Test [PDF-25.2MB]
• June, 2011: Final Technical Report DE-FC26-06NT42961 Seismic Gas Hydrate Quantification by Cumulative Attributes (CATTs) [PDF-7.91MB]
• May, 2011: Summary Report of DTAGS Deployment DE-AI26-06NT42878 Design and Deployment of a Deep-water Seafloor Sound Source [PDF-967KB]
• May, 2011: Summary of Phase II Research DE-NT0005668 Gas Hydrate Characterization in the Gulf of Mexico Using Marine EM Methods [PDF-7.66MB]
• February, 2011: Energy Resource Potential of Methane Hydrate [PDF-1.98MB]
• April, 2010: Final Scientific Technical Report DE-FC26-06NT42962 Drilling and Production Testing the Methane Hydrate Resource Potential Associated with the Barrow Gas Fields [PDF-3.80MB]
• July, 2009: Testimony on Gas Hydrate R&D Presented to Congressional Subcommittee Dr. Ray Boswell - NETL,  Dr. Timothy Collett - USGS,   and Steve Hancock - RPS Energy.
• April, 2009: Final Project Report DE-FC26-02NT41628 Support of Gulf of Mexico Hydrate Research Consortium: Activities to Support Establishment of a Sea Floor Monitoring Station Project [PDF-9.63MB]
• January, 2009: Project Report DE-NT0005668 Preliminary Cruise Report from the October, 2008 GOM cruise. [PDF-14.7MB]
• The Interagency Roadmap for Methane Hydrate R&D (PDF), which outlines a plan of action to fully address the goals of the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act, is now available.
• Report to Congress on Methane Hydrates Research [PDF-external site] This report from the Federal Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee provides an assessment of the Methane Hydrate Research Program as well as an assessment of the 5-year research plan of the Department of Energy.
• October, 2008: Final Project Report DE-FC26-06NT42962 Phase 1 Final Technical Report - Characterization and Quantification of the Methane Hydrate Resource Potential Associated with the Barrow Gas Fields [PDF-1.89MB]
• June, 2008 Final Project Report DE-FC26-05NT42663 Seismic-Scale Rock Physics of Methane Hydrate [PDF-2.50MB]
• April, 2008 Final Project Report DE-FC26-05NT42665 Gas Hydrate Instability in the Southeastern Bering Sea [PDF-1.32MB]
• March, 2008 Alaska Gas Hydrate Research and Stratigraphic Test Preliminary Results [PDF-1.84MB] - Robert B. Hunter, Scott A. Digert, Ray Boswell, and Timothy S. Collett
• February, 2008 SPE Article - Project FWP-G308 "Toward Production From Gas Hydrates: Current Status, Assessment of Resources, and Simulation-Based Evaluation of Technology and Potential" [PDF-4.0MB] - presented at the Unconventional Reservoirs Conference in February, 2008
• February, 2008 Well Log Data from the BP-DOE-US "Mount Elbert" Test - Digital well log data acquired at the February 2007 gas hydrates test well at Milne Point, Alaska are now available. Data include Gamma ray, neutron porosity, density porosity, three-dimensional high resolution resistivity, acoustics including compressional- and shear-wave data, and nuclear magnetic resonance.
• October, 2007 Final Phase 1 Project Report DE-AI26-06NT42938: Gas Hydrate Research Database and Web Dissemination Channel (Year 1) [PDF-921KB]
• October, 2007 American Journal of Science Article DE-FC26-06NT42960: Generalization of Gas Hydrate Distribution and Saturation in Marine Sediments by Scaling of Thermodynamic and Transpot Processes" [PDF-1.66MB]
• August, 2007 Final Project Report DE-AI26-06NT42878Geochemical characterization of concentrated gas hydrate deposits on the Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand [PDF-3.50MB]
• July, 2007 Topical Report DE-FC26-06NT42667: Combining Multicomponent Seismic Attributes, New Rock Physics Models, and In Situ Data to Estimate Gas-Hydrate Concentrations in Deep-Water, Near-Seafloor Strata of the Gulf of Mexico [PDF-535KB] - Task 8 (Select Rock Physics Model)
• July, 2007 Topical Report DE-FC26-05NT42664/ESD05-036: Approach to Forming Hydrate Bearing Samples in Fine Grained Material [PDF-94KB]
• June, 2007 Topical Project Report FEAB111: Experimental Formation of Massive Hydrate Deposits From Accumulation of CH4 Gas Bubbles Within Synthetic and Natural Sediments [PDF-1.06MB]
• June, 2007 Final Project Report DE-FC26-02NT41327: Petrophysical Characterization and Reservoir Simulator for Methane Gas Production from Gulf of Mexico Hydrates [PDF-9.04MB]
• May, 2007 Offshore Technologies Conference paper - project DE-FC26-05NT42664 / ESD05-036: Numerical Studies of Geomechanical Stability of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments [PDF-2.42MB]
• May, 2007 Phase 1A Final Technical Report DE-FC26-06NT42962: Characterization and Qualification of the Methane Hydrate Resource Potential Associated with the Barrow Gas Fields [PDF-1.03MB]
• May, 2007 Appendix to Phase 1A Final Technical Report DE-FC26-06NT42962: Gas Hydrate Stability Model for Barrow Gas Fields [PDF-614KB]
• March, 2007 Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project (JIP) DE-FC26-01NT41330: Well Logs from the 2005 GOM Cruise [external site - Chevron JIP]
• February, 2007 DE-FC26-05NT42664: Phase 1 Topical Report [PDF-5.72MB] Geomechanical Performance of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments in Offshore Environments
• February, 2007 Final Report DE-AF26-06NT00440: Development of a Gas Hydrate Markup Language [PDF-1.22MB] by E.Dendy Sloan, Center for Hydrate Research, Colorado School of Mines
• February, 2007 Phase I & II Final Reports DE-FC26-01NT41329: In-Situ Sampling and Characterization of Naturally Occurring Marine Methane Hydrate Using the D/V JOIDES Resolution
  Phase I Final Report [PDF-5.45MB]
  Phase II Final Report  [PDF-1.82MB]
• January, 2007 Status Presentations DE-FC26-05NT42664: Geomechanical Performance of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments in Offshore Environments
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [PDF-1.84MB]
  • Schlumberger [PDF-2.88MB]
  • Texas A&M University [PDF-2.18MB]
  • University of California Berkeley [PDF-2.28MB]
• August, 2006 Project Report FWP-G308: TOUGH+/HYDRATE - Hydrate Reservoir Simulator Development   Gas Production Potential of Disperse Low-Saturation Hydrate Accumulations in Oceanic Sediments [PDF-1.05MB]
• Project Reports from the The Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrate Joint Industry Project DE-FC26-01NT41330:
  • 2005 GOM/JIP Final Cruise Report  [PDF-6.13MB] - The Cruise of the Drilling Vessel Uncle John - Mobile, Alabama to Galveston, Texas - Atwater Valley Blocks 13/14 and Keathley Canyon Block 151, 17 April to 22 May 2005
  • Results of Core Sample Analysis - Fugro Operations and Geotechnical Investigations [PDF-7.13MB] - 2005 GOM/JIP Cruise Report
  • Topical Reports from the May 2005 DOE/JIP GOM Hydrate Research Cruise
       - Logging While Drilling Operations
       - Conventional Wireline Logging Operations
       - Bottom-Simulating Reflections
       - Pressurized Coring Equipment
       - Non-Pressurized and Pressure Core Handling
       - On-Board Geochemistry Analyses
• June, 2006 Final Project Report DE-FC26-02NT41328:  Controls on Gas Hydrate Formation and Dissociation, Gulf of Mexico: In Situ Field Study with Laboratory Characterizations of Exposed and Buried Gas Hydrates [PDF-1.2MB]
• June, 2006 Project Final Report DE-AT26-97FT34343:  Gathering, Processing and Evaluating Seismic and Physical Data on Gas Hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico [PDF-248KB]
• July 2005 Project Factsheet FWP-G308: NETL- Directing the Development of World-Class Gas Hydrate Reservoir Simulators [PDF-1605KB]
• June 2005 Topical Report DE-FC-01NT41332: Drilling and Data Acquisition and Planning [PDF-8092KB] - Resource Characterization of Natural Gas Hydrate, Kuparak River Area, North Slope of Alaska
• April, 2005 Final Project Report DE-AT26-97FT34342: Task No. 6 - Preparation, Drilling, and Testing of a Gas Hydrate Well [PDF-2.71MB]
• March, 2005 Final Project Report DE-FC26-01NT41331:  Methane Hydrate Production from Alaskan Permafrost [PDF- 14765KB]
• Topical Reports DE-FC26-01NT41331: Methane Hydrate Production from Alaskan Permafrost
  • Core and Fluids Analysis [PDF- 4910KB]
  • 3D Vertical Seismic Profile Survey [PDF- 27309KB]
  • Hydrate Reservoir Characterization and Modeling [PDF- 40780KB]
  • Drilling and Coring Operations [PDF- 5254KB]
  • Logging Operations [PDF- 3879KB]
  • Hydrate Core Drilling Test [PDF: 2.81MB]
• June 2003 Project Progress Report(Jan. 1 - March 31, 2003) DE-FC26-01NT41331 :  Methane Hydrate Production from Alaskan Permafrost [PDF: 6.86MB]
• May 2003 Project Report :  Hydrate Drill - Development, testing, and monitoring [PDF: 1.21MB]
     Visit the Photo Gallery for pictures of the microdrill
• July 2002 Project Report :  X-ray Scanner for ODP Leg204 [PDF: 1446KB]

Methane Hydrate R&D Program Publications

• Methane Hydrates R&D Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• September, 2009: U.S.DOE FY2008 Methane Hydrate Program Report to Congress [PDF-external site]
• 2007: Report to Congress on Methane Hydrates Research [PDF-external site- FE]. This report from the Federal Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee provides an assessment of the Methane Hydrate Research Program as well as an assessment of the 5-year research plan of the Department of Energy.
• 2007: Interagency Coordination on Methane Hydrate R&D  [PDF-8.24MB]
• 2006: Interagency Roadmap for Methane Hydrate R&D  [PDF]
• 2005: Amendment to the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 [PDF-28KB]
• 2003: 2003 DOE/JIP Hydrate Conference : On September 29 - October 1, 2003, DOE and ChevronTexaco jointly sponsored a Methane Hydrate Conference and JIP workshop  for the exchange of information on on-going methane hydrate projects, including the Gulf of Mexico Joint Industry Project.
• 2003: 2003 Report of the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee [PDF-1226KB]: Report to Congress on methane hydrate issues and opportunities, including an assessment of the uncertainty of the impact of methane hydrates on global climate change.
• 2003: Project Fact Sheet  New Drilling Platform Used for Alaska's First Dedicated Hydrate Well [PDF: 43KB]
• 2002: Methane Hydrates Interagency R&D Conference: Proceedings from the Methane Hydrates Interagency R&D Conference held March 20-22, 2002 in Washington, D.C.
• 2001: A collaborative approach to methane hydrate R&D activities [PDF-250KB] : This article describes the background, history, ongoing activities, and program goals for a national methane hydrate R&D effort coordinated by the SCNGO.
• 2000: Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000.
• 2000: Gulf of Mexico Hydrates R&D Planning Workshop: Proceedings from the Gulf of Mexico Methane Hydrates R&D Planning Workshop held August 9-10, 2000 in Houston, TX.
• 1999: "The National Methane Hydrate Multi-year R&D Program Plan" [PDF-144KB] : DOE/FE plan to develop a science-based program with industry and other Government agencies to understand the potential of methane hydrates worldwide
• 1998: "Strategy for Methane Hydrate Research and Development" [PDF-642KB] : This document sets the foundation for a 10-year national program for the production of methane from hydrates

More on Methane Hydrates