Azernews.Az

By Leman Mammadova

Turkey, that meets large part of the country's energy needs through oil and gas imports, will start oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea.

Turkey starts drilling operations in Black Sea, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez told Trend.

The ceremony on this occasion will take place today. Donmez said the exploration will begin in first in Mersin province on the Mediterranean coast.

Barbaros seismic exploration vessel in the Black Sea has identified rich reserves of natural gas in the Danube block in Turkish seawaters in the Western Black Sea. Romania and Bulgaria have been producing oil and gas for many years in Danube block, only small part of it belongs to Turkey.

Turkey has started drilling on the Mediterranean Sea on October 30 by Fatih exploration vessel. Turkey's Fatih exploration drilling vessel is one of the 5 boats, which is equipped with the most modern technology, was put into operation this year, has the ability to drill operations at a depth of 12,000 to 200 meters.

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has signed a $ 15 million contract with the U.S. Schlumberger for drilling operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

In 2017, 1,863 exploration for the new oil and gas fields was conducted in Turkey.

Turkey intends to establish a new company for oil and gas exploration abroad, which is expected to engage in oil and gas exploration in Central Asia and Africa.

In August 2017, Turkey imported 4,281 million tons of oil and oil products, particularly from Iraq (732,000 tons), Iran (647,000 tons), and Kazakhstan (243,000 tons).

According to the report of Energy Market Regulatory Authority, Turkey imported around 4.4 billion cubic meters natural gas from Azerbaijan in the first eight months of this year. Turkey imported 636 million cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan in August 2018. Azerbaijan was second natural gas exporter to Turkey after Russia (1.46 billion cubic meters). However, Iran exported 487 million cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey.

It should be noted that Turkey imports natural gas from Azerbaijan via the South Caucasus Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum) and TANAP. The South Caucasus Pipeline commissioned at the end of 2006 is currently supplying Shahdeniz gas to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Turkey now imports liquefied gas from Algeria, Qatar and the US, except Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.

Since Turkey's energy security is dependent on foreign energy resources, Turkey has been continuously exploring new hydrocarbon reserves offshore and onshore.

The law permitting oil exploration in forests and national parks came into force in Turkey in 2014. Since then, 54 wells onshore and 2 wells offshore have been drilled in Turkey.

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