Türkiye has moved into its first overseas deepwater drilling campaign, sending Çağrı Bey to the CURAD-1 prospect off Somalia after a 53-day voyage that ended in Mogadishu on 9 April 2026. The wellsite lies about 372 km off the Somali capital, and drilling is set to begin after positioning work and pre-spud testing at the location.

The campaign places Türkiye’s newest seventh-generation ultra-deepwater unit at the center of a 288-day program that targets a total depth of 7,500 m. The plan calls for drilling in 3,495 m of water and continuing 4,005 m below the seabed, a profile the Turkish energy ministry says would make CURAD-1 the world’s second-deepest offshore well.

An underwater robot rated to 4,000 m will support seabed work during the operation, underlining the technical complexity of the well. Built in South Korea in 2024, Çağrı Bey can drill to 12,000 m, measures 228 m by 42 m, stands 114 m high, and can accommodate 200 personnel.