The Gulf of Mexico Hydrates JIP, in collaboration with NETL/DOE, is investigating naturally occurring gas hydrates in the GOM.
The goals of the JIP include:
Develop, implement a research and technology plan to assist characterization of sediments containing naturally occurring hydrates in deepwater in the GOM Assess and understand potential safety hazards associated with drilling wells and running pipelines through sediments containing gas hydrates Develop a database of existing seismic, core, log, thermophysical and biogeochemical data to identify current hydrate containing sites in deepwater GOM Use existing knowledge to choose one or more sites in deepwater GOM for field tests Plan and execute a drilling and sample collection field testing program to collect data and obtain cores to characterize the hydrate containing sediments in the GOM Use existing data in the database and data collected from the field during the project to develop wellbore and seafloor stability models pertinent to hydrate containing sediments in the GOM.
This project was jointly funded by the MMS TAP Program and Environmental Studies Program.
Objectives of the TAP Program funding have been met. The JIP continues into 2007 and the Environmental Studies Program of MMS continues with their involvement. Further information can be obtained on the JIP website.