Turkey partners with Saipem for Osman Gazi FPU commissioning, boosting Black Sea gas production to meet rising energy demands.
As Turkey reaches a critical stage in its goal to increase natural gas production in the Black Sea, a contract has been signed with Saipem for the commissioning works of the Osman Gazi Floating Production Unit (FPU), which will operate in the second phase of the Sakarya Gas Field.
The Italian offshore engineering company Saipem has undertaken the commissioning services for Turkey's first floating gas production unit, Osman Gazi. The contract awarded by GOE Petrol Sanayi covers an 8-month period, although the financial size of the contract has not been disclosed.
Saipem's new assignment further expands the company's activities in the Sakarya Gas Field. The Italian company had previously undertaken significant subsea construction and pipeline works at different stages of the project.
Osman Gazi is scheduled to depart from Filyos at the end of September.
As one of the most important elements of the second phase of the Sakarya Gas Field, it is planned for Osman Gazi to leave Filyos and move to the production site in the Black Sea by the end of September.
After the completion of the offshore installation, testing, and commissioning works, it is aimed to start production in the fourth quarter of 2026.
With the commissioning of Osman Gazi, a significant increase in Turkey's natural gas production in the Black Sea is expected.
Daily target of 20 million cubic meters
With the second phase of the Sakarya Gas Field, Turkey aims to increase its daily natural gas production in the Black Sea to 20 million cubic meters.
It is noted that this production amount could meet the natural gas needs of approximately 8 million households.
The Osman Gazi FPU, which is 298.5 meters long, has the capacity to process up to 10.5 million cubic meters of natural gas daily and transfer approximately 10 million cubic meters of gas.
The unit will be connected to 10 wells in the Sakarya field via two manifolds and a total of approximately 161 kilometers of gas export pipeline.
Underwent extensive transformation in Filyos
The process of Osman Gazi's arrival in Turkey is also noteworthy.
Originally built as a cargo ship in South Korea in 1989, the platform was converted into a floating production unit in Singapore in 2008. After departing from Singapore in July 2024, the unit underwent a comprehensive renovation and transformation process in Turkey.
As part of the works in Turkey, steel renewals, deck reinforcements, and equipment revisions were carried out. Osman Gazi was then brought to Filyos, where assembly and completion works of the production modules continued.
Saipem's work in Sakarya is expanding
Saipem's new contract indicates that the company's role in Turkey's Black Sea gas sector is growing.
Last year, the company received a contract worth approximately $1.5 billion from Türkiye Petrolleri for the third phase of the Sakarya Gas Field.
Under this project, engineering, procurement, construction, and installation works will be carried out for eight rigid flow lines and a 24-inch gas export pipeline approximately 183 kilometers long.
This pipeline will connect the deep-sea field in the Black Sea to the infrastructure in Filyos. Offshore installation works are planned to be conducted in 2027 using Saipem's pipelaying vessel named Castorone.
Additionally, in January of this year, Saipem secured another new contract worth approximately $425 million for connecting the third phase infrastructure of the Göktepe gas discovery.
Turkey's target is 45 million cubic meters by 2028
Turkey's production target in the Black Sea gas sector extends beyond the commissioning of Osman Gazi.
By 2028, the goal is to achieve a daily natural gas production of 40-45 million cubic meters in the Black Sea. In this context, a second floating production unit is also planned to be commissioned in 2028.
Located approximately 170 kilometers offshore, the Sakarya Gas Field is situated at a water depth of about 2,150 meters. Natural gas production in the field began in 2023.
According to data from the Turkish government, a total of 6.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas has been produced since the start of production from the Sakarya field. As of May, the field accounted for approximately 92% of Turkey's total natural gas production.
With the commissioning of Osman Gazi, Turkey is preparing to surpass a new threshold in natural gas production in the Black Sea. The expansion of the Filyos-centered infrastructure and the commissioning of new phases are expected to further increase the significance of the Sakarya Gas Field in Turkey's energy supply in the coming years.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
