Somalia and Turkey Continue Offshore Oil Drilling as Curad-1 Well Advances

Mogadishu (WDN) – Somalia and Turkey’s state-owned energy company, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), are pressing ahead with drilling operations at the Curad-1 offshore exploration well, with officials expecting the first results of the exploration campaign by the end of 2026.

Located approximately 372 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, Curad-1 is the first offshore oil exploration well to be drilled in Somalia, marking a significant milestone in the country’s long-awaited effort to develop its offshore hydrocarbon resources.

The project follows extensive 3D seismic surveys conducted across three offshore blocks, which identified promising geological structures and paved the way for exploratory drilling. The Curad-1 well is expected to reach a depth of nearly 7,500 meters, with drilling operations projected to take approximately 288 days.

Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, said drilling is progressing as planned. He noted that seismic data has already been analyzed and that the current phase focuses on testing Somalia’s first offshore exploration well to determine whether commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves exist.