OREANDA-NEWS. January 31, 2012. HRT Participacoes em Petroleo S.A. (the “Company” or “HRT”) (BM&FBOVESPA: HRTP3, TSX-V: HRP) announces that its subsidiary HRT O&G Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo Ltda (“HRT O&G”), on January 29 at 11:45 a.m., spudded the well 4-HRT-7D-AM, in the prospect named Igarape Maria (IMA), located in the Solimoes Basin, in the Municipality of Coari-AM, in the Block SOL-T-194.

The objective of this drilling is to test a higher structural trend in relation to 1-HRT-4-AM, a gas and condensate discovery well, through a directional well. It has been drilled by the rig Tuscany-116, and is forecast to reach a final depth at around 3,150m with a 1,200m horizontal deviation in relation to the well 1-HRT-4-AM. The main targets of this drilling are the Jurua Formation reservoirs.

HRT Participacoes holds one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in Brazil. The HRT Group comprises eight main subsidiaries: IPEX (Integrated Petroleum Expertise Company Servicos em Petroleo Ltda.), HRT O&G Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo Ltda., HRT Netherlands B.V., HRT Africa Petroleo S.A., HRT America Inc., Air Amazonia Servicos Aereos Ltda. and HRT Canada Inc.. The Company retains a 100% interest in 21 exploratory blocks in the Solimoes Basin. HRT also operates ten exploratory blocks off the Namibian coast: eight blocks in the Orange Sub-basin and two blocks in the Walvis Sub-basin. HRT's team includes PHDs and masters in geochemistry, geophysics, biology and engineering, most of them former employees of Petrobras and ANP (Brazil petroleum agency). HRT is committed to minimizing any possible environmental impacts in the sites where it acts. Our commitment to the local communities is towards health conditions, security and quality of life.