NEWS RELEASE

HRT ANNOUNCES THE RECEIPT OF TRANSOCEAN MARIANAS SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE RIG

Rio de Janeiro, January 15th, 2013 - HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A. (the "Company" or "HRT") (BM&FBOVESPA: HRTP3, TSX-V: HRP) announces that it has received the semi-submersible drilling-rig Transocean-Marianas from Transocean (NYSE: RIG), offshore Ghana, at zero hour of January 15th, 2013. The rig will be in transit to Namibian waters for the next three weeks and, then, she will undergo mandatory maintenance for the following 21 days, before starting HRT's drilling campaign in Walvis and Orange sedimentary basins.

The Marianas is expected to be on location to start drilling the first well in Namibia, in the Wingat Prospect, in Walvis basin at HRT's Petroleum Exploration License-23 (Pel-23) by the end of 1Q13. Wingat is located in 1,000-meter water depth and its drilling operations are expected to last approximately 60 days.

"The arrival of the Transocean-Marianas is excellent news for HRT and GALP. She is arriving within the planned timeframe to start one of the most expected and exciting drilling campaigns in Southern offshore West Africa", added the CEO, Marcio R. Mello.

Click here for the News Release.

For further information, contact HRT`s Investor Relations Department.

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