An experimental study was made to understand the role of lecithin in hydrate formation/ stabilization in drilling fluids.The effect of lecithin on the thermodynamics and kinetics of methane hydrate formation/decomposition in pure water was investigated.Experimental results indicated that lecithin did not significantly affect the hydrate thermodynamic equilibrium conditions.Lecithin was however an excellent kinetics promoter as indicated by a significant increase in the rates and amounts of hydrate formation when the concentration of lecithin was over 0.003 g·g-1.