By Bosphorus News Energy Desk
Osman Gazi, Türkiye's first floating natural gas production platform, left Filyos Port for the Sakarya Gas Field on October 17, 2026. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said it would help raise daily Black Sea gas production capacity from 9.5 million to 20 million cubic meters in 2027.
Crews must secure the platform about 170 kilometers offshore and connect it to Sakarya's subsea infrastructure. Gas from the field's wells will be processed aboard and piped to Filyos.
Ten More Wells and December Flare Ignition
Sakarya's first phase has produced a cumulative 7.23 billion cubic meters of gas from 12 wells, Bayraktar said. Ten more wells are planned for the second phase. He said the aim is to ignite gas from Sakarya at the platform's flare tower in December, with higher output targeted for early 2027.
The ministry estimates that production at that level would be sufficient to supply eight million households, up from four million today.
Prepared for 20 Years Offshore
Osman Gazi is 298.5 meters long and 56 meters wide, with accommodation for 140 personnel. Designed to remain offshore for 20 years, it has 21 onboard processing facilities. Eleven were newly built for Sakarya, while ten were modified and integrated before deployment.
Preparations at Filyos included about 30 kilometers of piping. The platform carries 642 kilometers of electrical cable, and roughly 7,000 people worked on the project, according to the ministry. Crews installed a 96-meter flare tower weighing 260 metric tons in August.
Another Expansion in 2028
A second floating platform is under construction for the next expansion. With 32 wells in total, Ankara aims to reach 45 million cubic meters a day in 2028, which the government estimates would supply about 17 million households.
Bayraktar estimated Osman Gazi's potential annual economic contribution at about $3.5 billion at current gas prices.
An August update on the platform anticipated a late-September departure and commissioning in the final quarter of 2026. Osman Gazi left on October 17, while the government now targets first gas at the flare tower in December and higher output in early 2027. The ministry has not explained the later departure.
Sources: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Anadolu Agency, Bosphorus News review and reporting.