Updates on deep-sea drilling in Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea

Energy Minister Bayraktar updates on successful deep-sea drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, with focus on priority exploration areas reaching depths of up to 6,000 meters

The Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has announced that drilling has reached a depth of up to 6,000 meters in the areas designated for priority exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Responding to written parliamentary inquiries from CHP Zonguldak Deputy Deniz Yavuzyilmaz regarding the ongoing search and drilling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Minister Bayraktar highlighted the significant progress made in the region.

Türkiye’s Blue Homeland strategy has led to the creation of a deep-sea exploration fleet. This fleet allows for ongoing efforts to explore oil and natural gas reserves across all maritime territories.

Minister Bayraktar noted that exploration activities for oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean commenced following the addition of the Fatih Drillship to the fleet in 2017. To date, 10 deep-sea wells have been drilled.

The recent addition of the Abdulhamid Han Drillship to the fleet in August 2022 has further bolstered these efforts, with ongoing drilling activities in the Akseki-1 well.

In addition to drilling, seismic data collection operations related to oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean continue to progress. Bayraktar emphasized that efforts are under way to swiftly bring the discovered natural gas in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea into production for the benefit of citizens.

“Our deep-sea drilling and seismic research vessels are working diligently in the Black Sea, and some have been redirected to this region,” said Minister Bayraktar.

He further emphasized that hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean are being carried out in compliance with international law, ensuring the protection of Türkiye’s and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ rights.

Highlighting the capabilities of the Fatih and Yavuz drilling vessels, Bayraktar mentioned that they are capable of drilling depths of up to 12,000 meters. The ongoing drilling operations in the Mediterranean have so far reached depths of 6,000 meters in the fields earmarked for priority exploration.

Source: Newsroom

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