Global inventory of marine gas hydrate oceanic drilling programs compiled from four decades of international expeditions

This dataset assembles metadata and basic observational information for global marine gas hydrate drilling programs spanning the last 40 years across major hydrate-bearing marine basins worldwide. The compiled records cover two distinct developmental phases of marine hydrate research divided by the landmark 2013 Nankai Trough hydrate production test: the pre-2013 scientific exploration phase and the post-2013 pilot production-oriented phase. The dataset systematically archives information from numerous classic ODP/IODP legs, national hydrate expeditions including NGHP, UBGH, GMGS and CAGE cruises. Collected metadata includes program identifiers, expedition timing, study regions, primary research objectives, published reference sources, alongside categorized notes distinguishing scientific reconnaissance drilling and exploitation-targeted boreholes.