Free methane gas trapped under the hydrate layer is no easier to tap. (scientificamerican.com)
The article mentions nothing about the amount of energy that it takes to free the methane from the rock where it is held. (newscientist.com)
Methane is an extremely efficient greenhouse gas which may contribute to enhanced global warming when free in the atmosphere, and such free methane, would then be considered a pollutant rather than a useful energy resource. (sciencedaily.com)