Cagri Bey vessel set to launch new phase in Somalia oil and gas exploration

Türkiye is set to begin its first deep-sea drilling operation abroad, with the Curad-1 well offshore Somalia marking a new phase in the country’s energy strategy, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday in Mogadishu.

The well, located about 372 kilometers off Mogadishu, is expected to test a promising geological structure identified after months of seismic surveys conducted by Türkiye's Oruc Reis vessel.

Drilling will be carried out by the Cagri Bey vessel at a site with roughly 3,500 meters of depth, with a planned 4,000 meters of drilling below the seabed, bringing total depth to around 7,500 meters. At that level, Curad-1 would rank as the second deepest offshore well globally.

"A new chapter has opened in Turkish energy history and petroleum exploration," Bayraktar said, adding that the Somalia mission represents the country's first deep-sea drilling operation outside its borders.

The operation is expected to last between six and nine months, depending on weather conditions, particularly monsoon-related challenges in the region.

The drilling campaign will be supported by a fleet of auxiliary vessels handling logistics, positioning and personnel transfers, while Turkish naval assets will provide offshore security.

The move builds on Türkiye's push over the past decade to expand domestic exploration capabilities using its own fleet, which now ranks among the world's largest deep-sea drilling fleets.

Drilling campaign opens new chapter in Türkiye-Somalia ties

Türkiye discovered natural gas in the Black Sea under this strategy and is currently supplying around 4 million households from domestic production.

The Somalia project also reflects Ankara’s broader engagement with Africa, which has expanded significantly since the early 2000s, combining energy, trade and security cooperation.

Bayraktar said the offshore campaign could open a new chapter for both Türkiye-Somalia ties and regional energy development, adding that a potential discovery would be shared in the coming months.