Drilling through a hydrate deposit can cause it to break up. Each litre of melted hydrate releases about 160 litres of gas which can explode out of the drill-hole, causing drilling crews to lose control of a well. This can be an expensive problem to solve. Piercing a hydrate zone can also cause unstable hydrate layers to give way beneath oil platforms. A sudden thawing of hydrate causes sediment to lose strength, resulting in large-scale slumping.
Many scientists believe slumping can trigger tsunamis.
Climate researchers are also studying hydrates because the amount of methane they release into the atmosphere can accelerate greenhouse warming. Some scientists cite the breakdown of gas hydrates as the likely reason for the abrupt ending of glacial periods. Before scientists can evaluate the influence of gas hydrates on global climate change and in altering the stability of the continental slope, they need a better understanding of the physical and chemical properties of hydrate reservoirs. This includes a meaningful estimate of methane content. International research is currently focused in five main areas resource characterisation, production, global climate change, safety, and seafloor stability.