en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey has deployed the ultra-deepwater drillship "Cengiz Bey" to initiate the country's first overseas deepwater drilling operation offshore Somalia. The well, named Kulaad-1, is located approximately 370 kilometers offshore Mogadishu, in a water depth of about 3500 meters. With a planned total depth of approximately 7500 meters, it ranks among the deepest offshore drilling projects globally.
Over the past decade, Turkey has built one of the world's larger deepwater exploration fleets, with all previous drilling activities confined to its own waters. This entry into Somalia marks the first time the country's upstream operations have achieved deepwater drilling abroad, signifying a substantive expansion of its exploration strategy.
The location of the Kulaad-1 well was selected based on approximately 4,500 square kilometers of 3D seismic data acquired over previous months by the Turkish seismic vessel "Oruç Reis". The data interpretation revealed a prospective structure with hydrocarbon potential, directly driving the drilling decision. Turkish authorities stated that the well aims to test the hydrocarbon potential of deepwater reservoirs in the area, with drilling results expected to be revealed in the coming months.
Although offshore Somalia is adjacent to mature oil and gas producing regions in East Africa, its exploration level remains extremely low. Turkish officials said that if the Kulaad-1 well yields a commercial discovery, it could usher in a new development phase for Somali waters, attracting additional exploration investments from Turkey and other international operators.
Through this project, the Turkish national oil company is accelerating its acquisition of exploration acreage in frontier basins, seeking to diversify its supply sources amidst the global energy landscape adjustment. As attention on the resource potential of East Africa's offshore areas increases, competition for exploration blocks among state-owned oil companies is also becoming more active. Drilling operations have now commenced, and subsequent data acquisition and evaluation will determine the scale of follow-up investment in the region.
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