In a few carefully selected locations, hydrates should be studied intensively: (1) to identify precisely the amounts and distribution of gas hydrates, (2) to identify the large-scale chemical and geological factors that control hydrate emplacement and to determine how these may influence gain and loss of methane from the hydrate reservoir, (3) to determine the rates of formation and decomposition and factors influencing these rates, (4) to consider the nature of formation of hydrates within the sediments as grains, nodules, or veins, how this relates to such sedimentary parameters as pore space and grain size, and how it controls other parameters, such as acoustic velocity and shear strength, and (5) to propose possible cause for large-scale gains and losses of methane from the hydrate reservoir. These goals imply a need for both field and laboratory studies. Worldwide estimates of abundance, which presently show extreme variations, probably cannot be improved until we create new remote sensing approaches for identifying hydrates, gain ground truth for these approaches, and obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the processes that control gas-hydrate dynamics. It has become apparent that, although gas hydrate has been identified in marine sediments for many years, the research on the subject has been disjointed -- focused on isolated manifestations. Thus, we have not acquired a broad understanding of processes that affect hydrate development and are ignorant of the chemical and geological controls on those processes. Because of the immense amount of methane that is held in the hydrate, there are very major potential climate and resource implications. It is now time to intensify our study of this subject.