Turkey close to adding 4th ship to step up drilling for gas in Mediterranean, Black Sea - report

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is very close to reaching an agreement for a deep-water drilling vessel that will arrive from Norway, Daily Sabah said on Wednesday.

In October, Turkey's energy minister Fatih Donmez said that the country was exploring and analyzing options for leasing or acquiring a new drilling vessel.

Turkey currently has three drill ships in its fleet operating in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Daily Sabah said.

Last year, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey discovered in the Black Sea its biggest-ever natural gas field holding estimated reserves of 320 billion cubic metres.

Turkey aims to continue drilling activities and will draw up production plans as it aims to become a net energy exporter, Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying back then.