Turkey Starts Local Survey

The seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis owned by Turkey's state owned upstream operator TPAO has begun surveying in Turkish waters in the Gulf of Antalya, pro-government Turkish daily Sabah reported September 18.

According to previous announcements in August the vessel had been sent to the eastern Mediterranean August 30 from the Sea of Marmara, in order to survey offshore Cyprus where another TPAO survey vessel is already surveying and two Turkish drill ships are drilling. 

Marine tracking web sites confirm that having spent two weeks in the Turkish port of Antalya, the Oruc Reis is now traversing the Gulf of Antalya. 

Sabah gave no official reason for the change but said that after surveying the Gulf of Antalya, Oruc Reis will join the other three Turkish vessels in Cypriot waters. Sabah also confirmed that TPAO's drill ship Fatih is continuing to drill off the west coast of Cyprus but gave no further update.

Previous official statements on the vessels which began drilling in May indicated that one well would be drilled and completed by the end of July. Then the results would have to be assessed before any announcements could be made. Turkish officials were unavailable for comment at time of press.