The reserve is in an area that can be easily commercialized

Reminding that the total reserve amount has increased to 405 billion cubic meters with the new natural gas discovery in the Black Sea, Prof. Mehmet Efe Biresselioğlu, Head of Division of Sustainable Energy, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), said, "If, in line with the data provided by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas is produced annually in the Sakarya Gas Field, according to the 2019 annual consumption amount, 22 percent of Turkey's natural gas demand will be able to be provided from this reservoir for about 40 years."

Regarding the new discovery made in Sakarya Gas Field, Biresselioğlu told Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter that Fatih drillship has been actively working in the Black Sea since July.

Emphasizing that a natural gas reserve of 320 billion cubic meters, which can be classified as giant deposit at international standards, has been discovered at a depth of 2 thousand 100 meters with the work carried out in the Tuna-1 well, 170 kilometers off Zonguldak, Biresselioğlu said, " Accelerating studies show that the deeper you go, two more layers exist. An additional reserve of 85 billion cubic meters has been discovered in the exploration works completed by diving to a depth of more than 4,500 meters in the Tuna-1 well. Thus, the total reserve amount increased to 405 billion cubic meters. This amount is the largest hydrocarbon resources discovered in the history of Turkey."

Pointing out that natural gas works will continue in the Türkali-1 well at the Sakarya drilling field in the coming months, Biresselioğlu said, " With the positive results to be obtained here, this amount is expected to increase even more. The reserve discovered in July and the revision of the amount of reserves carried out with new seismic studies.

Following that could bring many opportunities for Turkey. It is expected that opportunities such as reducing foreign dependency in energy, decreasing the current account deficit and increasing energy security in a larger framework are expected to be achieved."

Biresselioğlu told that the discovered reserves would make Turkey a more active player in energy diplomacy in the international arena and it will bring political consequences such as more participation in strategic decision-making processes. Biresselioğlu stated the following:

"If, in line with the data provided by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas is produced annually in the Sakarya Gas Field, according to the 2019 annual consumption amount, 22 percent of Turkey's natural gas demand will be able to be provided from this reservoir for about 40 years. New seismic studies and reserve amount revisions mean that the production amount in question gradually increases. The 320 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves discovered in July corresponds to Turkey’s 7-year needs initially, and with additional reserves announced, this duration is closer to 10 years. These numbers are expected to increase with discoveries to be made in other fields. In this context, it is also important for Turkey to continue the search at sea."

"The reserve is in an area that can be easily commercialized"

Biresselioğlu stated that Sakarya Gas Field is at a very strategic point due to its proximity to the Romanian and Bulgarian natural gas exploration fields where major energy companies invest and he indicated that the Sakarya Gas Field location is located in an area where it can be easily commercialized if the reserve is put into production.

Biresselioğlu pointed out that the explorations in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean can continue with the experience gained in the Tuna-1 well and the knowledge gained in the previous drilling in the Black Sea and international collaborations. Biresselioğlu continued his speech as follows:

"With the Sakarya Gas Field and the discovery of natural gas, the country, expected to be most affected by the changing energy policy of Turkey in the long term would be, Russia although its share of imports in recent years decreased. The timing of discoveries made in the Sakarya gas field coinciding with agreement update period with Russia, Turkey's most important natural gas supplier, and the potential of the reservoir, emerge as factors that increase the importance of the reserve in the Black Sea. This reserve and other reserves to be discovered, boost Turkey's position in the international arena. At the same time, in case of new discoveries in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey could have a say in the long term in the natural gas production. In this context, international collaborations in areas such as exploration studies, natural gas production, export connections in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean will also come to the fore. Another important issue here is the supply security within the framework of the concept of energy security. Thanks to the reserves discovered, Turkey having a natural gas supply not affected by other countries, political developments, and market conditions will mean the reduction of uncertainties and risks on this topic.”