HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A. has reached an agreement to lease the semisubmersible Transocean Marianas to drill its wells offshore Namibia. A letter of award has been signed and the final contract, which should be signed within the next 15 days, is in its final stage of preparation.

HRT's drilling campaign is set to start late fourth quarter or early first quarter 2013, and the rig will be under contract for a 280-day term, being enough to drill at least four exploration wells.

“Transocean Marianas is the perfect rig for our project. Her ability to operate in shallow water and in deepwater allows her to drill all of our prospects, which water depths range from 160 m (524 ft) to 1,800 m (5,905 ft). HRT will be testing excellent quality prospects that together hold resources in excess of 28 billion barrels of oil equivalent,” mentioned Marcio Mello, chief executive officer of HRT.