HOUSTON, December 22 /PRNewswire/ --

Hercules Offshore, Inc. (Nasdaq: HERO) today announced that it has closed the previously announced sale of its fleet of nine land drilling rigs and related assets to Petrex Sudamerica Sucursal de Venezuela S.A. and Saipem Perfuracoes e Construcoes Petroliferas Lda. for approximately US$107 million. Simmons & Company International served as financial advisor to Hercules Offshore on this transaction.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050601/DAW092LOGO)

Headquartered in Houston, Hercules Offshore, Inc. operates a fleet of 33 jackup rigs, 27 barge rigs, 65 liftboats, three submersible rigs, one platform rig and a fleet of marine support vessels, and has operations in nine different countries on four continents. The company offers a range of services to oil and gas producers to meet their needs during drilling, well service, platform inspection, maintenance, and decommissioning operations in shallow waters.

Web site: http://www.herculesoffshore.com

Stephen M. Butz, Vice President Finance and Treasurer of Hercules Offshore, Inc., +1-713-350-8315 ; Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050601/DAW092LOGO, AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com