Türkiye’s pioneering deep-sea oil and gas exploration drilling off the coast of Somalia is advancing significantly ahead of schedule, with project leaders signaling that operations could wrap up by the end of September.
According to the Somali Petroleum Authority Director General, Abdulkadir Adan, who spoke to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), the high-stakes offshore operation has progressed rapidly and without encountering technical hurdles. Initially, project timelines slated the completion of this phase for October. However, the current pace of work has shaved roughly a month off the schedule.
Adan emphasized that the complex drilling has proceeded smoothly, noting an absence of accidents or technical setbacks while adhering strictly to international safety standards. The workforce comprises between 470 and 480 personnel stationed aboard the primary drilling vessel and its support fleet, with Turkish nationals making up approximately 20 percent of the crew.
At the heart of this offshore endeavor is Türkiye’s seventh-generation ultra-deepwater drillship, the Çağrı Bey. Built in South Korea in 2024 and spanning 228 meters with a maximum drilling capacity of 12,000 meters, the vessel is currently executing exploration drilling at the Curad-1 well. Located approximately 370 kilometers offshore from Mogadishu, the operation aims to probe roughly 4,000 meters below the seabed, targeting a cumulative depth of 7,500 meters. The Çağrı Bey is supported by a dedicated flotilla consisting of the Altan, Korkut, and Sancar vessels, alongside active security details provided by Turkish naval assets.
This milestone marks a historic chapter for Ankara, representing Türkiye’s first-ever deep-sea exploration drilling operation conducted outside its own territorial waters. The venture is the tangible result of a deepening bilateral partnership established in March 2024, when Türkiye and Somalia signed an intergovernmental agreement and a memorandum of understanding on hydrocarbon cooperation. This framework was later solidified in July 2024 with a production-sharing agreement covering three designated offshore blocks.
Laying the groundwork for the current drilling phase, Türkiye’s Oruç Reis seismic research vessel conducted extensive three-dimensional surveys across 4,464 square kilometers within the three blocks. Following nearly seven months of meticulous data collection and analysis, the Curad-1 site was handpicked for exploratory drilling after promising geological structures were identified.
Successfully executing the Curad-1 operation is anticipated to be a watershed moment for the region. It will provide critical clarity on Somalia’s offshore energy potential, serving as a vital stepping stone for both nations to transition their energy cooperation into a functional production phase. As the drill bits push deeper toward their target, the accelerated timeline injects fresh momentum into a partnership designed to reshape East Africa’s energy landscape.
