Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz said he was optimistic for the drilling, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
“We have begun drilling activities almost one year earlier than we had planned to begin, thanks to the coherent partnership with TPAO and support from the authorities,” the paper cited Shell Turkey country director Ahmet Erdem as saying.
Shell and TPAO will be investing around $300 million in Black Sea drilling activities, 100 kilometers offshore of Istanbul.
ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom started drilling an exploration well in October 2014 for a new prospect in the Neptune block in the Black Sea, 155 kilometers offshore, in the Romanian section of the Black Sea.