Türkiye to launch oil-targeted drilling in western Black Sea

Türkiye will soon begin drilling a challenging oil-targeted ⁠well ⁠in the western Black Sea, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar ⁠said Wednesday, the latest in the country's efforts to expand domestic hydrocarbon reserves.

"We will start an oil-targeted drilling operation in the western Black Sea soon. It will ⁠be a ⁠difficult drilling operation and will take some time," Bayraktar told private broadcaster CNBC.

Türkiye has expanded its offshore exploration capabilities in recent years, increasing its deep-water drilling fleet to six vessels. One of the vessels is currently operating in Somalia, while others are conducting exploration and production-development activities in the Black Sea.

Ankara has previously said ⁠it plans six exploration wells across the western, central and eastern Black Sea in ⁠2026 as it seeks new oil ⁠and natural gas discoveries.

Stabil.Az