Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar visited the Seven Vega ship, which will play a critical role in the natural gas operations in the Black Sea, and received comprehensive information from the authorities. Minister Bayraktar announced that the seabed connection operations are targeted to be completed within approximately 40 days.
The Seven Vega stands out as one of the most advanced reel-lay vessels used in deep-sea pipelaying operations. With a length of 143 meters and an operational capacity of up to 3,000 meters water depth, the ship will be responsible for laying the subsea pipeline under Phase 2.
When the new pipeline is completed, the natural gas produced from the Phase 2 wells will be transferred directly to the Osman Gazi Floating Production Unit. After separating the gas, the unit will provide the connection to the main pipeline extending to land.
According to the plan, the pipeline is expected to be placed subsea at the beginning of the year and connected to the Osman Gazi Floating Production Unit by mid-2026. With the commissioning of the second phase, an additional daily production of 10 million cubic meters will be provided, raising the total capacity to 20 million cubic meters.
Making statements on the ship anchored at Sarayburnu, Minister Bayraktar reminded that the Phase 1 production at the Sakarya Gas Field has reached a daily level of 9.5 million cubic meters, which is equivalent to the consumption of 4 million households. Bayraktar also recalled that the Osman Gazi Platform was sent off to the Black Sea on May 29.
Bayraktar stated that the Osman Gazi, whose preparations are ongoing in Filyos, will catch up with the operations on time, saying, “We are completing the seabed connection phase with the Seven Vega. The majority of the wells are ready. Now, the lines that will connect these wells to each other and to the production platform will be laid.”
Stating that the Seven Vega will complete its mission in the Black Sea after an approximately 40-day work period, Bayraktar emphasized that they aim to reach a production capacity sufficient for 8 million households with the second phase.
Minister Bayraktar said that the activities of the Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, and Abdülhamid Han drilling ships in the Turkish energy fleet continue. He announced that one of the two new ships joining the fleet this year is in Mersin Taşucu, and the other will arrive in Mersin on Wednesday. He stated that after the necessary preparations, the ship will begin its duty in the Black Sea.
Stating that besides increasing the existing production in the Black Sea, six new exploration drillings are planned for 2026, Bayraktar said, “We will continue our exploration activities in promising areas in the Eastern, Central, and Western Black Sea.”
