TPAO’s off-shore activities has begun with Seyhan-1 well in 1966. TPAO’s off-shore activities spread to the Mediterranean and Black Sea with the wells of Payas-1, Çınar-1, Karataş-1 and Karadeniz-1, which started drilling in 1970 and continued in the following years. Off-shore operations spread to all Turkish seas since 1970, approximately 80 shallow and deep sea wells in total have been drilled by TPAO being the operator or partner.

TPAO continues to work tirelessly in order to reveal the hydrocarbon potential of Turkish seas. Along with two-dimensional (2D) seismic data, the three-dimensional (3D) studies are aimed to determine the most promising wells to be drillled. Akçakoca gas field and started its ongoing production activities after the gas discovery in the Akçakoca-3 and Akçakoca-4 wells thanks to the seismic data collected, drilled wells and advanced engineering practices.

Off-shore hydrocarbon exploration activities carried out by TPAO in the Black Sea have gained momentum since 2004. Between 2004 and 2019, intensive seismic activities were carried out in the Black Sea, 142,000 km two dimensional (2D) seismic data and 37,610 km2 three dimensional (3D) seismic data were collected and interpreted in the fields that TPAO holds license. After the interpretation of the collected data, a total of 6 deep sea and 10 shallow sea exploration wells were drilled. Following the gas discovery in the Akçakoca-3 and Akçakoca-4 wells, number of wells drilled in the Akçakoca production site has reached to 24.

Hydrocarbon exploration activities has been carried out by TPAO in the Sea of ​​Marmara since 1975. Starting with Marmara-1 well, a total of five shallow water exploration wells were excavated between 1975 and 1995. Exploration of the North Marmara gas field was made possible by North Marmara-1 well, drilling of which was completed in 1988. Exploration activities in Marmara Sea gained momentum after 2016 and intensive seismic data collection studies were done. Over 3000 km2 of 3D seismic data has been collected since 2016.

3D seismic data collection plays an important role in revealing the potential in scope of hydrocarbon exploration. In line with the seismic data collected from Mediterranean Sea between 1974-2019, 15 sea exploration wells were opened in the Gulf of Iskenderun and Mersin to test the hydrocarbon potential of the region from the 1960s to the present day. Various levels of gas and oil fields are encountered in these wells.

After data collection phase, drilling is planned in the areas that shows potential. In this context, the nationalization of the drilling vessels that have recently joined our inventory, is among the most important developments. TPAO has achieved an important milestone in hydrocarbon exploration activities that it pioneered in our country. 

Turkey's first national drill ship Fatih has joined TPAO’s inventory in 2017. Fatih is equipped with Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) system after the necessary maintenance work. On October 29 2018, Alanya-1 deep sea well has been started drilling by fully national resources for the first time in our history. In 2018, drillship Yavuz has been added TPAO inventory and our deep sea exploration capabilities have increased.

TPAO continues its drilling activities in line with the data received, engineering calculations and facilities provided by our national drillships in our inventory. In the recent two years, North Erdemli-1, Kuzupınarı-1 and Gümüşyaka- 1 shallow sea wells were also excavated in addition to the deep sea wells of Alanya-1, Finike-1, Karpaz-1, Güzelyurt-1 and Magosa-1. TPAO’s activities in these fields continue with Narlıkuyu-1 and other deep sea wells.

TPAO continues to work in our blue homeland in order to reveal the hydrocarbon potential of our country. Our off-shore operations have been carried out in accordance with our national energy policy and 5 deep sea wells are planned for 2020.

Our aim in all these activities is to discover hydrocarbon potential in our blue homeland and contribute to reduction of our country's dependence on foreign energy.