U.S. shale moves abroad: new drilling in Turkey & Bahrain

As domestic shale production begins to level off, U.S. oil companies are starting to look overseas for growth.

With extensive experience in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, these producers are taking their know-how to new territories where reserves remain largely untapped. This shift in strategy could reshape the future of global energy exploration.

1. The slowdown at home

The once-explosive growth of U.S. shale production is entering a more mature phase.

Many of the most productive basins—like the Permian—are becoming increasingly expensive and competitive. With fewer easy wins at home, international expansion is becoming more attractive, both strategically and economically.

2. The power of U.S. technology

Hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) combined with horizontal drilling transformed the U.S. into the world’s top oil and gas producer.

Fracking involves injecting high-pressure fluid to break rock formations and release hydrocarbons, while horizontal drilling allows access to more of the reservoir with fewer surface disruptions.

These techniques, refined over the past two decades, are now seen as exportable skills—especially valuable in regions with untapped shale formations.

3. Spotlight on Turkey and Bahrain

Continental Resources recently announced a joint venture in Turkey with the national oil company and TransAtlantic Petroleum.

They aim to develop the Diyarbakir Basin, estimated to contain up to 6 billion barrels of oil and 570 billion m³ of gas, and the Thrace Basin, potentially holding up to 45 trillion cubic feet of gas.

EOG Resources is launching a project in Bahrain alongside Bapco Energies, applying U.S. horizontal drilling techniques to test and develop a gas formation with early signs of success, according to Argus.

4. A shift in strategy

Historically, U.S. shale companies focused almost entirely on domestic production. International plays were seen as too risky or capital-intensive.

But as growth at home slows, early international success stories could spark a broader wave of global exploration.

5. Challenges and opportunities

The international path is not without risks. Market skepticism remains, and shale success outside of the U.S. and Argentina has been limited.

Yet the cost of entry is often lower than acquiring high-value assets in places like the Permian, and if these ventures deliver strong returns, investor confidence could grow.

6. What comes next?

This may be the beginning of a new era where American shale expertise becomes a global export.

If these early projects prove viable, more producers may join the wave—bringing advanced technology, efficiency, and innovation to basins far beyond U.S. borders.