So far its still in the realm of science fiction from what I can tell...

And the consequences if it goes wrong would be part way between science fiction and horror.

Well - from a global warming point of view it would be disastrous even if it went "right" - the volume of hydrocarbons in the hydrates dwarfs that of other fossil fuels.

http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2008/01/warning-signs-on-ocean-floor.html

O yea of little faith... how could poking a 1000m long stick at a potentially unstable geochemical formation under the sea possibly go wrong?!

;-)