Türkiye is set to step up hydrocarbon exploration and drilling activities in the Black Sea and off the coast of Somalia, leveraging its advanced energy fleet.
The drillship Abdülhamid Han, which began operations in the Black Sea on 26 March, continues its work at the Kandıra-2 well off the coast of Kocaeli, marking the first exploratory drilling of the year.
In April, the Fatih drillship will operate at the Eflani-1 well, while the Çağrı Bey is scheduled to start operations at the Curad-1 well in Somalia by the end of the month.
Over the past decade, Türkiye has expanded its energy fleet to secure domestic supply of oil and natural gas. Alongside advanced drillships such as Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, and Abdülhamid Han, the country has deployed seismic research vessels like Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa and Oruç Reis, enhancing its exploration capabilities.
With intensive drilling activities in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea and new fleet additions, Türkiye continues to raise its domestic gas production targets.
Among the latest vessels, the Yıldırım, a seventh-generation ultra-deepwater drillship, departed from Taşucu Port in Mersin on 26 January after final preparations, heading to the Black Sea for assigned missions. Its twin, the Çağrı Bey, set sail for Somalia in February to conduct drilling in areas previously surveyed by Oruç Reis.
With Yıldırım and Çağrı Bey, Türkiye’s number of drillships rises to six, placing the country fourth in the world in terms of fleet size when combined with seismic vessels.
Drillships
Fatih – Türkiye’s first national drillship, joined TPAO’s fleet in 2017. On 29 May 2020, coinciding with the 567th anniversary of Istanbul’s conquest, Fatih was sent from Haydarpaşa Port to begin Türkiye’s first deep-water drilling in the Black Sea at Tuna-1, targeting depths of 3,500–4,000 meters.
Built in 2011 in South Korea, Fatih employs sixth-generation technology, measuring 229 meters in length, 36 meters in width, and 51,283 gross tons. Its dynamic positioning system allows operations to continue even in six-meter waves. Fatih continues exploratory drilling at Göktepe-2 well as of 23 May 2024.
Yavuz – Completed in 2011, previously operated in Tanzania, Kenya, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Acquired by TPAO in 2018, the 230-meter-long vessel is capable of drilling at depths of up to 12,200 meters under extreme pressure, with dual towers supporting simultaneous operations. Yavuz continues exploration in the Black Sea.
Kanuni – Türkiye’s third drillship, added to the fleet in early 2020, measures 227 meters in length and 42 meters in width. After final preparations, Kanuni began its mission at the Sakarya Gas Field in May 2021 and continues drilling activities in the Black Sea.
Abdülhamid Han – The fourth drillship, added in 2022, was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea under the name Cobalt Explorer. Measuring 238 meters with a 104-meter tower, the vessel can drill at depths of up to 12,200 meters and is considered the fleet’s most advanced ship. It continues exploratory drilling at Kandıra-2 well in the Black Sea.
Yıldırım and Çağrı Bey – Seventh-generation ultra-deepwater drillships, capable of drilling up to 12,000 meters. Yıldırım is set to begin operations in the Black Sea, while its twin, Çağrı Bey, is expected to reach Somali waters in April, marking Türkiye’s first overseas drillship operation after Oruç Reis.
Seismic Vessels
Türkiye also conducts seismic research and data collection through its modern seismic vessels. Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, commissioned in 2012, can survey geological structures up to 8 kilometers below the seabed.
Oruç Reis, constructed entirely with domestic technology starting in 2012, began operational testing in 2017 and can perform deepwater 2D and 3D seismic surveys, as well as strategic scientific research such as continental shelf mapping. Both vessels continue active operations.
As part of Türkiye-Somalia cooperation, Oruç Reis conducted offshore exploration in Somali waters last year and is currently docked at Filyos Port
