Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 12
Rufiz Hafizoglu-Trend: Shell has started the development of shale gas deposits in the Turkish province of Diyarbakir, Shell Turkey director Ahmet Erdem said, Sabah newspaper reported on Nov.12.
According to him, over a thousand meters were drilled for the development of shale gas deposits in the province of Diyarbakir
Earlier Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said Turkey is searching for local and foreign partners for joint exploration and development of shale gas deposits in the country.
According to the Minister, Turkey is already cooperating with Shell in the development of shale gas deposits in the province of Diyarbakir.
"We intend to continue to work on the development of shale gas deposits and look forward to proposals from local and foreign companies with regards to cooperation in this area," Yildiz said.
Earlier, the Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists (TPJD) reported that shale gas reserves in Turkey are estimated at 1.8 trillion cubic meters which is enough for the country for 40 years with an annual consumption of raw materials at 45 billion cubic meters.
The largest reserves of shale gas are found mainly in South-Eastern Turkey as well as in the provinces of Edirne, Istanbul, Ankara and the Black Sea coast.
Turkey has launched an active search for oil and gas fields in order to reduce dependence on foreign supplies.
