Turkey’s state-owned energy company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), has entered into a partnership with supermajor Shell for offshore exploration in Bulgaria. The agreement, the latest move in Ankara’s upstream expansion abroad, will see the two companies target oil and gas in the massive Khan Tervel block. The Shell-operated Khan Tervel block spans 3,800 sq km and holds deepwater plays near Turkey’s massive Sakarya gas field. The partnership secures a five-year exploration license. “As part of our strategy to grow TPAO abroad, which we have accelerated since the beginning of the year, we continue to expand our international partnerships. With Shell, building on the cooperation framework we initiated in 2024, we have now formalised a partnership in the Khan Tervel field in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone,” said Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on X. The firms will undertake a 3D seismic survey across the block, teeing up potential drilling in 2027. The close proximity of Sakarya’s does promise geological similarities, and TPAO’s deepwater experience in the Black Sea will be invaluable. “Our experience at sea, strong fleet of vessels, and trained personnel have been fundamental pillars of this partnership,” Bayraktar added. This marks TPAO’s fourth overseas upstream pact in the past several weeks. ExxonMobil was the first to sign a deal in 2026 for collaboration on oil and natural gas exploration in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. It was followed by memoranda of understanding with Chevron and BP in February to collaborate on oil and natural gas exploration in the Black Sea and internationally. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsBulgaria Turkey United Kingdom