After years of offshore flops (MEES, 9 October), Turkey finally seems to have hit the jackpot. Turkish state-oil firm TPAO announced on 21 August its Fatih drillship had struck gas at the ‘Tuna-1’ well, located about 175km north of the Black Sea city of Ereğli.

Though TPAO puts its initial estimate of recoverable reserves at 320bcm (around 11tcf), a more accurate picture won’t be available until further appraisal drilling has taken place. But the Turks are optimistic. (CONTINUED - 358 WORDS)