Exhibit 99.1


        Gastar Exploration Announces Successful Bossier Drilling Results


     HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2006--Gastar Exploration Ltd. (AMEX:GST)
(TSX:YGA) is pleased to announce that it has drilled the John Parker #1 well
located in Robertson County, Texas to a total depth of 17,522 feet and, based on
preliminary analysis of electric logs and gas shows encountered during drilling,
the well encountered approximately 60 net feet of apparent pay with high
indicated porosity in four separate middle Bossier sands. Gastar is in the
process of installing a 5-inch string of casing to total depth and will begin
initial completion and testing in at least two of the four apparent pay zones.
The completion activities are expected to take approximately 30 days and, if
successful, initial production is expected by mid-September 2006. Gastar has a
50% after casing point ("ACP") working interest with Chesapeake Energy
Corporation (NYSE:CHK) owning a 25% ACP working interest and an unrelated
private exploration and production company owning the remaining 25% working
interest.
     Gastar is currently drilling the Wildman Trust #2 well at an approximate
depth of 17,800 feet and anticipates reaching total depth in approximately 20
days. The Wildman Trust #2 well is being drilled to an estimated total depth of
19,200 feet. This well is targeting the same lower Bossier series of sands that
are productive in Gastar's Donelson #1 well plus middle Bossier sands found in
the Wildman Trust #1 well and the Donelson #1 well. Gastar's working interest is
approximately 56% BCP (67% ACP) in the Wildman Trust #2 well with Chesapeake
Energy Corporation holding the remaining 44% BCP working interest (33% ACP
working interest).
     Commenting on the announcement, J. Russell Porter, Gastar's Chief Executive
Officer, stated, "The success of the John Parker #1 well confirms the reserve
potential for a very large portion of Gastar's deep Bossier holdings. With this
well, and the continued success of offset drilling adjacent to Gastar's lease
position by other operators, the risks associated with future drilling of the
middle Bossier formation on Gastar's acreage position has decreased
substantially. We expect to spud the John Parker #2 well within the next 10 to
14 days to test the middle Bossier formation at a location approximately one
mile south of the John Parker #1 well."
     Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an exploration and production company focused on
finding and developing natural gas assets in North America and Australia. The
Company pursues a balanced strategy combining select higher risk, deep natural
gas exploration prospects with lower risk coal bed methane (CBM) development.
The Company owns and controls exploration and development acreage in the Deep
Bossier gas play of East Texas and in the deep Trenton-Black River play in the
Appalachian Basin. Gastar's CBM activities are conducted within the Powder River
Basin of Wyoming and upon the approximate 3.5 million gross acres controlled by
Gastar and its joint development partners in Australia's Gunnedah Basin (PEL
238) and Gippsland Basin (EL 4416) located in New South Wales and Victoria,
respectively.

     Safe Harbor Statement and Disclaimer:

     This Press Release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Act of 1934. A statement identified by the words "expects", "projects", "plans",
and certain of the other foregoing statements may be deemed forward-looking
statements. Although Gastar believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual future activities and results to be
materially different from those suggested or described in this press release.
These include risks inherent in the drilling of natural gas and oil wells,
including risks of fire, explosion, blowout, pipe failure, casing collapse,
unusual or unexpected formation pressures, environmental hazards, and other
operating and production risks inherent in natural gas and oil drilling and
production activities, which may temporarily or permanently reduce production or
cause initial production or test results to not be indicative of future well
performance or delay the timing of sales or completion of drilling operations;
risks with respect to oil and natural gas prices, a material decline in which
could cause the Company to delay or suspend planned drilling operations or
reduce production levels; and risks relating to the availability of capital to
fund drilling operations that can be adversely affected by adverse drilling
results, production declines and declines in natural gas and oil prices and
other risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as
filed on March 31, 2006 with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission at www.sec.gov and on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and
Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.
     The American Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange have not reviewed
and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


     CONTACT: Gastar Exploration, Ltd., Houston
              J. Russell Porter, 713-739-1800
              Fax: 713-739-0458
              rporter@gastar.com
              www.gastar.com