Blake International LLC plans to acquire the fleet of platform rigs and related equipment of offshore drilling contractor Pride International Inc., Houston, (NYSE: PDE) for $66 million in cash.

The fleet consists of eight units in the Gulf of Mexico, of which four are under contract, two are under contract in Mexico, and two are retired.

The sale is consistent with Pride's stated strategic direction to focus its offshore drilling operations in deepwater and other high-specification assets. The closing is expected before July 15.

Pride operates 64 rigs, including two deepwater drillships, 12 semisubmersible rigs, 28 jackups, 10 platform rigs, five managed deepwater rigs and seven Eastern Hemisphere-based land rigs. The company also has three ultra-deepwater drillships under construction with expected deliveries in 2010 and 2011.