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Türkiye’s national oil company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), has partnered with U.K.-based energy giant Shell to explore oil and natural gas in Bulgaria’s section of the Black Sea, securing participation in a five-year exploration license covering the Khan Tervel block.
The agreement was signed in Istanbul by TPAO General Manager Cem Erdem and Shell Senior Vice President Eugene Okpere on Wednesday, bringing TPAO into a project where Shell serves as the operator of the exploration license in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.
The Khan Tervel block covers slightly more than 3,800 square kilometers and is located close to Türkiye’s Sakarya Gas Field, the country’s main offshore natural gas production area.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the companies would begin with three-dimensional seismic surveys to analyze the geological structure of the area. He added that drilling an exploration well could follow, depending on the findings.
"We have formalized our partnership with Shell in the Khan Tervel field located in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone," Bayraktar said, noting that the license would allow joint seismic work and potential drilling during the five-year period.
The partnership forms part of Türkiye’s broader strategy to expand TPAO’s activities beyond national borders through cooperation with international energy companies. Since early January, TPAO has signed separate agreements with ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP, as Ankara seeks to strengthen its presence in global oil and gas exploration.
Bayraktar said TPAO’s offshore operational experience and fleet capabilities, combined with Shell’s technical expertise, provided a strong foundation for the project. He added that such collaborations would contribute to energy supply security and support the company’s institutional and technical development.
He added that TPAO’s experience in Black Sea exploration and production has enabled the company to participate in projects outside Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction.
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