We will study the formation of methane hydrates in situ in the presence of swelling clays. The aim is to understand and control heterogeneous hydrate nucleation at this important class of mineral interface. We have chosen to study two varieties of clay of different hydrophilicity: intermediate charge laronites and hydrotalcite. We will prepare aqueous dispersions of these clays at 2 - 0.5 wt %. Methane CH4 and CD4 will then be loaded at < 15 MPa, under which forcing pressures bulk methane hydrates becomes stable at up to +16C. At each pressure we will lower temperature while monitoring hydrate structure and formation kinetics via short real time scans. Once equilibrated we will collect data at each state point, before following the heating curve back through hydrate dissociation. These experiments complement our ongoing computer simulations of hydrate nucleation, and are supported by BP.