Turkey has prolonged its military training exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean until next month, meaning Italian major Eni remains unable to move a Saipem-owned drillship to the site of its next exploration well off Cyprus.

Turkish military vessels halted the Saipem 12000 in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone on 9 February as it made its way from Block 6 to Block 3 to spud the Soupia-1 wildcat.

The Ankara administration claimed its vessels were performing military manoeuvres in the area, meaning the drillship could not move to its intended drill site. Those military exercises were due to be completed on 22 February, but Upstream was told this week that they have now been extended until 10 March.

Market sources confirmed that the rig remained stationary as of the middle of this week.

The Cypriot administration in the capital Nicosia has awarded offshore exploration rights to Eni and others, but Turkey claims joint dominion over the island, with some offshore areas falling into the jurisdiction of Turkish Cypriots or the Ankara administration.

Turkey’s intervention led to heated comments from the governments in Ankara, Nicosia and Athens.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry accused Cyprus of “unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities... in disregard of the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, who are the co-owners of the island”.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said soon after the rig was halted: “From our side, our actions reflect the necessity of avoiding anything that could escalate (the situation), without of course overlooking the violation of international law perpetrated by Turkey.”

Weekly

Turkey prolongs Cyprus drillship blockade