# title
Gas hydrate deposits: Formation and development

# abstract
Naturally occurring hydrates were discovered only 39 years ago (Makogon, 1965). Gas hydrates that contain large volumes of hydrocarbon energy accumulated in a few hundreds of meters of sediments near the earth surface. The potential volume of gas-in-place in a hydrated state is estimated to exceed 1.51016 m3. A single m3 of natural gas hydrate contains about 150-160 m3 of gas. About 98% of all gas hydrate deposits are found offshore in deep water in upper sedimentary layers. The most prospective regions are in the oceanic slopes. The thickness of hydrate-bearing rock may reach hundreds of meters, and in some conditions exceed 1 kilometer. Large amounts of free gas or liquid hydrocarbon can accumulate under the impermeable hydrate roof. Such coexistence of deposits can be very efficient for hydrocarbon production. There are many problems to be solved before we can produce gas from hydrate deposits. Natural gas hydrate research is currently being conducted in a number of countries, such as USA, Japan, Russia, and India. International collaboration will accelerate and increase the effectiveness of mastering these new resources of mineral energy accumulated in gas hydrate deposits. Knowledge of conditions of formation, stability and decomposition of hydrate and seawater and the mass ratios of gas and water during phase transition appears to be quite important. Copyright 2004, Offshore Technology Conference.

# publicationOutlet
Proceedings of the Annual Offshore Technology Conference

# authorList[]
Makogon, Y. F., Holditch, S. A., Perry, K. F., & Holste, J. C.