天然气水合物资源极为丰富。据国外专家估算，水合物中的天然气总资源超过了包括煤炭、石油与常规天然气在内的所有已知可燃矿产的储量。天然气水合物层是油气聚集的极好盖层，可以作为勘探油气藏的标志。天然气水合物还是影响全球气候变化的重要温室气体之一的甲烷的重要源和汇。因此，进行天然气水合物研究对开拓21世纪能源、完善油气成藏理论、解决天然气工业生产和输送过程的管进堵塞问题，以及探讨其与全球气候变化的关系问题均有重大意义。目前应开展的研究内容与重点课题包括：天然气水合物的成因机制与油气成藏演化规律；分布规律及有利蕴藏地区；物化特性及其生成与消除的方法；天然气水合物与全球气候变化的关系等。

    Natural gas hydrates, as the gas resource, is very abundants. It has been estimated that the gross gas resource in hydrates exceed the proved reserves of all the combustible minerals, including coals, oil and conventional gases. Natural gas hydrates formation is the fine seal to accumulating oil and free-gases, it is the sign to prospecting for petroleum. The CH4 in the natural gas hydrates is one of the key greenhouse gases, which affects the global climate change, and is the principle origin and source in the crust. Therefore, studying on natural gas hydrates is very important for developing new energy, perfecting the theory of petroleum pool formation, forecasting the hydrates blocking up gas pipleline during gas transporting and treating for use, and discussing the relationship between natural gas hydrates and global climate change. At present, the following fields need to research:
    1.the formation mechanism of natural gas hydrates and the evolution routine of oil and gas deposits with gas hydrates.
    2.distribution of natural gas hydrates in the crust and its potential region;
    3.Physical and chemical characteristics of natural gas hydrates, and the methods of removeing hydrates in pipletine.
    4.the relation between gas hydrates and the global climate changes.ete.