Scientific Results from the Mallik 2002 Gas Hydrate Production Research Well Program, Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract

This publication chronicles the results of the Mallik 2002 Gas Hydrate Production Research Well Program which is a joint effort of 300 scientists from Japan, Canada, Germany, the United States and India. As a leader in gas hydrate research, Japan has collaborated with the Geological Survey of Canada on a gas hydrate project at the Mallik site. The JAPEX/JNOC/GSC et al. Mallik 3L-38, 4L-38 and 5L-38 exploratory wells were drilled in the Mackenzie Delta on the coast of the Beaufort Sea in Canada's Northwest Territories to examine the feasibility of methane gas production from permafrost-related gas hydrate. The Mallik site is one of the world's most intensely studied gas hydrate sites. Several research projects were initiated, including coring of the gas hydrate zones, extensive geophysical and mud-gas logging, reservoir-evaluation testing, cross-well tomographic seismic studies, and vertical seismic profiling. The 63 technical research papers and accompanying databases included in this publication provide details on new research and insight on gas hydrate production testing. In addition, new studies are reported on in situ physical and geophysical properties of gas hydrate. New appraisals on the relevance of gas hydrate to energy, climate and geohazard research were also presented. This publication also includes an interactive database available as an appendix on a DVD. refs., tabs., figs.