Work Restarted at Turkey’s First Oil Well

While drilling works in Turkey’s territorial waters continue, new news came from Şırnak today. Drilling works resumed in Basbirin-1 well, which is Turkey’s first oil exploration well and whose operations were stopped on the grounds that there were not enough reserves. Well, It was reopened at the same location 88 years later.

It was reported that while the works on the oil well continued day and night, the security in the region was provided by the gendarmerie. surrounding villagers hoping for oil While getting excited, Cemil Turan, President of Batman Chamber of Drivers and Automakers, said that in such a case, serious contributions will be made to the region, new employment opportunities will be created stated.

The story of Turkey’s first oil well

With the establishment of the Petroleum Exploration and Operation Administration with the Law No. 2189 dated 20 May 1933, petroleum exploration activities in Turkey were emphasized. The Basbirin-1 well near the Cave village of the İdil district, which was connected to Mardin in those years and today’s Şırnak, was also part of these works. Turkey’s first oil exploration well had happened.

In the well opened on 13 October 1934 by the then Minister of Finance and former President Celal Bayar. Oil was found at a depth of 1,324 meters. However, due to the lack of sufficient reserves, the works were terminated on June 15, 1936, at a depth of 1,351 meters.