Diyarbakır shale oil discovery targets $540 billion in potential reserves

Oil exploration and production efforts are intensifying in Turkey’s Southeast Anatolia region, specifically between the Bismil and Silvan districts of Diyarbakır. Drilling operations conducted at a depth of approximately 4,000 meters have successfully reached shale oil. Experts note that the quality of the oil obtained through these unconventional methods is high, comparable to oil extracted in Middle Eastern countries.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar previously announced that drilling for shale oil in Diyarbakır had commenced in collaboration with a U.S. company. The potential economic value of the reserves in the region is estimated to reach $540 billion. If successful, production could contribute approximately $8 billion annually to the Turkish economy, with potential reserves exceeding the production capacity of the Gabar field in Şırnak by two to three times.

Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO) is continuing operations in the area, with additional drilling activities reported in the rural parts of the Sur district. These developments suggest that Diyarbakır could emerge as a major new petroleum production hub for the country, following the established production center in Batman.