In 2002, an international team conducted the Mallik Gas Hydrate Research Well Program in Canada, drilling a nearly 1.2-kilometer main production well and two nearby observation wells. The aim was to study gas hydrates—ice-like compounds in sediments that trap methane. Full-scale field tests depressed pressure and heated the hydrates to see how they respond, while scientists monitored the results. Total drilling reached about 3.5 kilometers; core samples were collected. Scientists wanted to understand hydrate stability, how hydrates behave when pressure and temperature change, to assess whether hydrates could be a future energy source and to learn about their role in climate and deep life. The project brought together teams from USGS, GFZ, Geological Survey of Canada, and partners from Japan and India, and ran from December 2001 to March 2002. The results have informed scientists and policymakers about the potential for safely exploring hydrates and their place in climate and energy discussions.