Hercules Offshore says that Chairman John T. Reynolds submitted his resignation from the company's board of directors, effective December 31, 2009, to focus on other business interests and his role as co-founder and managing director of Lime Rock Management L.P. Thomas R. Bates, Jr., who has been a director of Hercules Offshore since the company's inception in 2004, will assume the role of Chairman upon Mr. Reynolds' departure.

Mr. Bates has extensive management experience during his long career in the oilfield services industry, having served as President of the Discovery Group of Baker Hughes Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Weatherford/Enterra, Inc., and as President of Anadrill at Schlumberger Limited, among other positions. Mr. Bates received a Bachelor's, Master's and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

John Rynd, Hercules Offshore's Chief Executive Officer and President, stated, "John Reynolds has been a valuable member of Hercules Offshore's board since the company's formation in 2004. He has been the Chairman from the company's creation and has presided over the company during a period of substantial growth. We greatly appreciate Mr. Reynolds' efforts and wish him every success in his future endeavors. Although we will miss the knowledge and insight that Mr. Reynolds has provided to us as Chairman, we are pleased that Tom Bates will be taking over this position. Mr. Bates has already made great contributions to the success of Hercules Offshore as a board member over the last five years and we look forward to his guidance and leadership in the times ahead."

In connection with Mr. Reynolds' resignation, the Board of Directors also resolved to reduce the size of the board from ten directors to nine, effective as of December 31, 2009. In addition, it is reducing the size of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee from four members to three.

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