Hydrocarbon Reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean Meet Türkiye's Needs for 572 Years

This calculation is based on gas hydrates. Remember that 1 unit of gas hydrate is equivalent to at least 64 units of natural gas.

(MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION TO BAU DEGS AND THE AUTHOR)

• Data on the newly discovered oil and natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean are clearly set out in the comments and reports of experts[1] , the survey and analysis results of SHELL, BP[2] and NOBLE ENERGY concerning the region, and the report published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on 8 April 2010.
• When we examine these data, we see that they correspond to exactly 572 years of Türkiye's hydrocarbon needs.
• Beyond energy transportation, the natural gas and oil reserves declared to exist in the Eastern Mediterranean itself add particular economic significance in terms of energy.
• So, how large are the hydrocarbon reserves lying beneath the Eastern Mediterranean?
• In fact, through his theses, which have helped secure very important gains for our national interests, and through his published articles clearly setting out Türkiye's rights under international law, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihat YAYCI examined the subject in detail in an article he published in 2012[3] and brought it to our attention.
• In the report published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on 8 April 2010, it was estimated that the Levant Basin, the area between Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria and Israel, contains 3.45 trillion cubic meters (122 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas and 1.7 billion barrels of oil; this estimate indicates that one of the world's largest natural gas deposits is located in the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The United States Geological Survey estimated that the Nile Delta Basin contains approximately 1.8 billion barrels of oil, 6.3 trillion cubic meters (223 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas and 6 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, while the oil reserve around the island of Cyprus, said to be 8 billion barrels, was announced to be worth approximately 400 billion dollars. In addition, the area to the south and southeast of Crete known as "Herodotus" contains a total of 3.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, in one deposit of 1.5 and another of 2 trillion cubic meters.
• In this context, it is estimated that the Eastern Mediterranean contains hydrocarbon deposits equivalent to 30 billion barrels of oil with a total value of approximately 1.5 trillion dollars. Considering 2010 consumption levels, it is understood that the hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean could meet Türkiye's natural gas needs for approximately 572 years and Europe's for 30 years.
• Considering that exploration is still ongoing in many areas and that these declared reserves will increase further with the discovery of possible new fields, in terms of energy the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean grows even further.
• It would not be wrong to say that the Eastern Mediterranean will be the scene of the sharpest showdown of the 21st century.
• On the other hand, according to the findings of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), gas hydrate deposits, which indicate the presence of both oil and natural gas and are also described as the energy source of the future, exist not only in the Black Sea but also in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is stated that a gas hydrate deposit of 3,000 square kilometers can meet the EU's energy needs for 30 years. It is interesting that the areas where Israel is said to have found rich natural gas overlap with the areas shown on the map below as containing gas hydrates , which indicates the accuracy of the findings.
• As seen on the map below, there are rich gas hydrate deposits in Türkiye's maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the Gulf of Antalya and its surroundings, covering approximately 80,000 square kilometers.

Map Showing Gas Hydrate Deposits

[1] Such as former Director of Energy Policies at the Ministry of Energy Hristos ARONİS, Dr. Theodoros BATRAKULİS of the University of Paris, petroleum geologist and energy economics expert Konstantinos NİKOLAU, German hydrocarbon deposits expert Alfred GERR and Prof. Antonis FOSKOLOS of the Department of Mineral Resources Engineering at the University of Crete.

[2] BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2010

[3] Cihat YAYCI; "The Problem of Sharing Maritime Jurisdiction Areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Türkiye", Bilge Strateji, Vol. 4, No. 6, Spring 2012, p. 6