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Exploration operationsÌýin Turkey's northwest Thrace region are promising for the explorationÌýand production ofÌýshale gas,ÌýBesim Sisman,Ìýthe general managerÌýofÌýTurkish Petroleum, said Tuesday.Ìý
"We are conductingÌýourÌýoperations to explore shale gas rapidly all around the country. ButÌýthe operations to explore shale gas are veryÌýpromisingÌýin the Thrace region," Sisman told Anadolu Agency.
"In the next few days, there will be shale gasÌýexplorationÌýin three wells in the region," he added.Ìý
Noting thatÌýshale gas potential is high in Thrace region, Sisman underlined their aimÌýto reach concrete evidence with their operations.ÌýÌý
According toÌýthe U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S., Canada, China andÌýArgentina are the only four countries in the world that produceÌýcommercially-viableÌýshale oil and gas.Ìý
Although shale gas and tight oil resources in Turkey are largely unknown, with new unconventional techniques, such as 3D seismic exploration and hydraulic fracturing, it is possible to produce oil and gas from source rocks in shale formations.Ìý
- Oil and gas operations in Turkey
Sisman said Turkish Petroleum's oil and natural gas exploration and production projects are ongoingÌýboth in onshore and offshore territories, such as the Black Sea in Turkey's north. He added that the Thrace regionÌýis very important for drilling operations and it is where the company conductsÌýoffshore operations from.
"Meanwhile, we are also planning to increase the capacity of our natural gas storage facilities in Silivri, fromÌý2.6Ìýto 4.3 billion cubic meters, and raise our backward production there from 20 to 75 million cubic meters a day," Sisman indicated.Ìý
ReportingÌýby Ugur Pirpor
Writing by Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
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