Based on the borehole wall stability of shallow cover layer drilling for natural gas hydrate in northeast of the South China Sea, borehole wall stability prediction model for shallow cover layer of deep water drilling, the physical and mechanical parameters of sediments from the South China Sea and the research status of borehole wall stability of natural gas hydrate reservoir formation are analyzed and summarized. The difficulties of borehole wall stability prediction and the solutions are discussed, which provides the support to borehole wall stability prediction for marine gas hydrate bearing sediments drilling in shallow cover layer of deep water.