Turkey intensifies hydrocarbon exploration with 55 drilling rigs deployed
Turkey Boosts Domestic Energy Production with New Drilling Rigs
Turkey has expanded its hydrocarbon exploration efforts with the addition of two new locally manufactured drilling rigs, Seyit Onbaşı and Naim Süleymanoğlu, to its fleet on August 27, 2025. This move is part of the country's strategy to increase its reliance on indigenous drilling technology and reduce its dependence on imported energy.
As of now, Turkey is using a total of 55 drilling rigs, including three domestically built towers, for hydrocarbon exploration. The Seyit Onbaşı and Naim Süleymanoğlu rigs, which were developed in 2023, have already been put into operation.
Each of these new towers stands 43.2 meters tall and boasts a hook load capacity of 357 tons. They are capable of drilling up to 5,000 meters and operate using national drilling software, as indicated by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry of Turkey.
The Seyit Onbaşı rig is currently active at the Atak-3 well in Şirnak's Silopi district, while the Naim Süleymanoğlu rig is drilling at the Şehit Aybüke Yalçın-71 well in Gabar.
The Gabar field, where the Koca Yusuf TP1500 rig, another domestically developed drill, began operations in April 2024, is estimated to yield $2.3 billion annually. Production from the Gabar field commenced in late 2022.
The discovery of 36 API gravity crude at the Şehit Esma Çevik-1 well in May 2021, followed by finds at the Şehit Aybüke Yalçın field reaching 41 API gravity by April 2023, have significantly contributed to Turkey's ability to cut crude imports.
Officials anticipate that growing domestic output, supported by local technology, will continue to decrease Turkey's dependence on imported energy. This strategic move is expected to have a significant impact on the country's energy sector and its overall economy.
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