Turkey continues energy exploration with fourth drillship, Erdogan says

Turkey’s third drillship Kanuni passes through Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait as it sets sail for Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey on November 13, 2020 [Onur Çoban – Anadolu Agency]

Turkey continues its hydrocarbon exploration with the launch of a fourth drillship, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

According to the report, addressing ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies in Ankara for the parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said: “Unlike other ships, this vessel is a seventh generation ship equipped with the latest technology. There are five of these ships in the world, and we have one of them.”

Erdogan said that the new ship, to be operated by the Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), can operate at a maximum depth of 3,665 meters (12,024 feet).

Last August, Turkey’s third drillship, Kanuni, set sail in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey resumed energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean last Septermber, after Greek and Egypt signed the maritime deal, which Ankara has called illegal.

Turkey has discovered 60m barrels of oil in 2021

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