The Gas Hydrate Project was implemented to provide an understanding of the gas hydrate resource and to facilitate its development. Understanding the resource will be achieved through: assessment of current technology; characterization of gas hydrate geology and reservoir engineering; and development of diagnostic tools and methods. Recovery of natural gas from gas hydrates will be made possible through: improved instrumentation and recovery methods; developing predictive capability of production performance; and field verification of recovery methods. Much of the emphasis to date has focused on reservoir research. Four primary work elements are associated with resource reservoir research: (1) geographic distribution, (2) geologic engineering, (3) laboratory testing and analysis, and (4) modeling and system analysis. 28 references, 21 figures, 8 tables.