Türkiye Launches First Overseas Deepwater Drilling at Curad-1 Well Offshore Somalia

April 12, 2026 — Türkiye has kicked off its first overseas offshore drilling campaign, deploying the ultra-deepwater drillship Çağrı Bey to drill the Curad-1 well offshore Somalia, a move that marks a significant expansion of its upstream oil and gas footprint beyond domestic waters, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The Curad-1 well is situated approximately 370km offshore Mogadishu, Somalia, in water depths of around 3,500m, with a planned total depth of roughly 7,500m — placing it among the deepest offshore drilling operations globally, the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources reported. The drilling project is expected to last 288 days, supported by multiple auxiliary vessels and involving about 500 personnel, as stated by Anadolu Agency.

The drilling target was identified following a multi-month seismic survey conducted by Türkiye’s Oruç Reis vessel, which collected 3D seismic data across approximately 4,500 sq km. Interpretation of this data revealed a potentially prospective hydrocarbon structure, prompting Türkiye to move forward with the drilling operation, according to CGTN Radio.

This campaign represents a major milestone for Türkiye, which has steadily built up its offshore exploration capabilities over the past decade and now operates one of the world’s larger deepwater exploration fleets. The foray into Somalia aligns with Türkiye’s broader strategy to expand its international exploration and production activities, particularly in frontier basins, and follows a February 2026 defense and economic cooperation framework agreement signed between Türkiye and Somalia, which grants Turkish Petroleum access to a 15,000 sq km exploration license offshore Somalia, reported by Guangming Net.

Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, noted at a welcome ceremony in Mogadishu that this drilling campaign opens a new chapter in Türkiye’s oil and gas exploration history, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Officials indicated that the project could usher in a new phase of development for Somalia’s offshore sector, which remains largely underexplored despite its proximity to established hydrocarbon provinces in East Africa — a region hailed as "the last undeveloped oil-rich area on Earth" by industry insiders, according to Global Times.

The Curad-1 well is expected to test the potential of deepwater hydrocarbon plays in the region, with results anticipated in the coming months. If successful, it could pave the way for further drilling and investment from both Türkiye and other international operators, amid growing interest in East Africa’s offshore resource potential.

This campaign also underscores the increasing competition among national oil companies and state-backed operators to secure new exploration acreage and diversify energy supply sources amid shifting global energy dynamics, as observed by Time magazine.