TotalEnergies Signs Black Sea Exploration Deal with Türkiye's TPAO

By Bosphorus News Energy Desk

TotalEnergies and Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO), Türkiye's state-owned oil and gas company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 13, 2026 in Istanbul, establishing a framework for joint hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea and internationally.

The Agreement

The MoU provides a basis for technical collaboration and a joint assessment of exploration opportunities, both in Türkiye's Black Sea waters and in unspecified international locations. The deal was announced by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar on X on the day of signing.

"We are pleased to launch this cooperation with TPAO, leveraging the technical expertise of both companies to evaluate exploration opportunities in the Black Sea region and internationally on a mutually beneficial basis," said Nicola Mavilla, Senior Vice-President for Exploration at TotalEnergies.

Bayraktar described the agreement as part of Türkiye's goal of becoming a regional energy hub. "As we work to realize our goal of transforming TPAO into a global energy player, we will continue to strengthen our nation's journey toward full energy independence by combining our superior technical capabilities with international experience," he said.

Fourth Major in 2026

TotalEnergies is the fourth Western energy major to sign an exploration cooperation agreement with TPAO since the start of 2026. ExxonMobil signed first, followed by Chevron and BP, all covering potential Black Sea and Mediterranean exploration. The agreements reflect a broader effort by Ankara to attract international technical expertise as it moves to expand domestic output and reduce energy import dependence.

TotalEnergies also holds a separate 10-year LNG supply agreement with BOTAŞ, Türkiye's state gas pipeline and trading company, set to begin in 2027.

TPAO's Drilling Program

TPAO currently operates four drillships in the Black Sea: Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni and Abdülhamid Han. The company has indicated plans for up to six exploration wells in 2026. Türkiye's first floating gas production platform, Osman Gazi, is expected to become operational in the second half of the year, a milestone Ankara says will allow it to double domestic gas output.

On the same day as the TotalEnergies signing, Bayraktar said TPAO would begin acquiring minority stakes in foreign energy companies as part of its international expansion strategy. He did not name specific targets.