Turkey's ultra-deepwater drillship, Yavuz, will start its journey towards the Lefkosia -1 line offshore hydrocarbon field offshore northern Cyprus in the East Mediterranean Sea on Friday to conduct drilling activities, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez announced Thursday.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview, Donmez confirmed that Turkey's exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean have expanded to a great extent in 2019.
Currently, the Yavuz drilling vessel is located in Tasucu port in Turkey's southern Mersin province.
The country sent its second drilling vessel, Yavuz, to the East Mediterranean Sea on June 20 to begin hydrocarbon exploration off the coast of Cyprus and now Turkey is considering purchasing and operating an additional drilling vessel for further exploration and drilling.
During the year, ongoing efforts to find common ground in sharing the East Mediterranean reserves between all concerned actors, namely Turkey, the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), and the Greek Cypriot Administration failed.
On July 16, 2019, Donmez revealed Turkey's plans to send a fourth ship, the Oruc Reis seismic vessel, to the Eastern Mediterranean region to continue exploration and drilling. Along with the Fatih and Yavuz drilling vessels, the Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa seismic vessel also conducts exploration activities on behalf of the country.
On Aug. 7 last year, the sixth generation ultra-deepwater drillship Yavuz started its first operation at the Karpaz-1 well located in the Bay of Gazimagusa, also known as Famagusta, in the TRNC.
On Oct. 5, the Yavuz drilling vessel had reached its second location, the Guzelyurt-1 well, to continue oil and gas exploration and to start drilling activities on Oct. 27.
By Gulsen Cagatay and Gokce Kucuk Topbas
Anadolu Agency