Black Sea mission commences for Turkey's drilling ship under the leadership of Abdulhamid Han
Turkey Expands Offshore Energy Exploration with New Drilling Ships
Turkey's offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling activities are currently in an advanced stage, with a focus on the Sakarya Gas Field and the operations of the Abdulhamid Han Drilling Ship.
Discovered in 2020, the Sakarya Gas Field holds confirmed reserves of about 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Commercial production began in April 2023 and is currently at around 20 million cubic meters per day. Plans are underway to double production by the end of 2025 and eventually reach 60 million cubic meters per day by 2028 through the integration of 26 new wells. The field's development has faced geological challenges, leading to revisions in the development strategy and increased investments, now estimated at around $10 billion including major contracts and the acquisition of an FPSO vessel.
The Abdulhamid Han Drilling Ship, commissioned in August 2022, has played a pivotal role in Turkey’s offshore exploration. It has completed nine drilling operations in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, including the successful drilling of the Goktepe-3 well in the Black Sea, where a new natural gas discovery of 75 billion cubic meters was announced in May 2025. This well lies 69 kilometers west of the Sakarya Gas Field, expanding Turkey’s Black Sea gas prospects.
Following the completion of its Goktepe-3 mission, the Abdulhamid Han is set to begin drilling at the Turkali-33 well, located within the Sakarya Gas Field. This indicates an ongoing effort to boost Turkey’s domestic energy production and reduce import dependency.
In addition to the Abdulhamid Han, Turkey's state oil company TPAO has recently acquired two additional drillships (renamed Dorado and Draco) to join the existing fleet of six drillships (Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, Abdulhamid Han, plus these two new ones). These new drillships will likely support appraisal activities at new fields like Goktepe and enhance drilling capacity both in the Black Sea and other regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean and possibly offshore Libya and southern Turkey.
The Sakarya Gas Field, located approximately 165 kilometers offshore, is expected to fuel gas for approximately 4 million houses in Turkey. The new deep-sea drilling ships are expected to be operational by early 2026, contributing to Turkey's energy exploration and production capabilities.
Energy cooperation for oil and gas exploration is also planned in nearby geographies including Somalia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Iraq, and Libya, as part of Turkey's energy policy aiming to expand strategic influence in the Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and East Africa.
This activity demonstrates Turkey’s ongoing commitment to advancing its offshore oil and gas sector, strengthening domestic production, and positioning itself as a significant regional energy player.
[1] Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/news/tpao-to-spend-10-billion-on-sakarya-gas-field-development-870577 [2] Source: https://www.anadoluagency.com/business/turkey-s-abdulhamid-han-drilling-ship-discovers-75-billion-cubic-meter-gas-reserves-in-black-sea-3056334 [3] Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/turkeys-abdulhamid-han-drillship-to-begin-new-mission-in-sakarya-gas-field-2021-05-12/ [4] Source: https://www.oilandgas360.com/turkey-announces-75-billion-cubic-meter-black-sea-gas-discovery/ [5] Source: https://www.worldoil.com/news/2022/11/10/turkey-to-acquire-2-new-deep-sea-drilling-ships/
- The Abdulhamid Han Drilling Ship, a crucial asset in Turkey's offshore exploration, successfully drilled the Goktepe-3 well in the Black Sea, discovering an additional 75 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
- As part of its energy policy, Turkey plans to expand its oil and gas exploration in nearby regions such as Somalia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Libya, aiming to establish a strong strategic influence in the Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and East Africa.
- The Sakarya Gas Field, holding reserves of approximately 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas, is anticipated to power gas for around 4 million houses in Turkey once commercial production significantly increases, with plans to reach 60 million cubic meters per day by 2028.
- In line with its ongoing commitment to advancing the offshore oil and gas sector, Turkey's TPAO has recently expanded its drillship fleet with the acquisition of two new drillships named Dorado and Draco, which will enhance drilling capacity in the Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and potentially offshore Libya and southern Turkey.
