Exhibit 99.1

Gastar Exploration Announces Bossier Completion Results and Drilling Update


    HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2006--Gastar Exploration Ltd.
(AMEX:GST) (TSX:YGA) announced today that it has concluded initial
completion operations on the John Parker #1 well. The well was
completed in two middle Bossier zones and had an initial gross
production rate of 10 MMCFD (3.75 MMCFD net to Gastar). Gastar expects
to add completions in one or two additional middle Bossier zones in
the well within the next 60 to 90 days. Gastar projects that this well
will decline hyperbolically, as is typical for deep Bossier wells, and
stabilize at an approximate gross rate of 3 to 5 MMCFD prior to adding
additional completions.
    Gastar is currently drilling the John Parker #2 at an approximate
depth of 9,900 feet and expects to reach a projected total depth of
18,000 feet within the next 80 to 90 days. The John Parker #2 well is
being drilled to test the presence and productivity of middle Bossier
sands in a location approximately one mile south and east of the John
Parker #1 well. Gastar's working interest in the John Parker #2 well
is approximately 42% before casing point ("BCP") (50% after casing
point ("ACP")) with Chesapeake Energy Corporation holding a 33% BCP
(25% ACP) working interest and an unrelated private exploration and
production company holding the remaining 25% working interest.
    Gastar anticipates spudding the Williams #1 well, an offset to the
Wildman Trust #2 well, by September 9, 2006 with a projected total
depth of 19,500 feet. Total depth of the well is anticipated to be
reached within 120 days of spudding. Gastar anticipates that it will
hold between a 60% and 67% working interest position in the Williams
#1 well depending upon working interest elections from partners.
    Gastar has commenced completion operations for the Wildman Trust
#2 with initial production expected by the first week of October.
    Commenting on the announcements, J. Russell Porter, Gastar's
President & CEO, stated, "The successful completion of the middle
Bossier zones in the John Parker #1 well and the expected completion
of the lower Bossier sands in the Wildman Trust #2 should
significantly increase Gastar's net production and cash flow and
position the Company for increased levels of drilling activity in the
deep Bossier play as we bring on a third drilling rig in the 4th
quarter."
    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 acres controlled
by Gastar and its joint development partners in Australia's Gunnedah
Basin, PEL 238 and Gastar's Gippsland Basins 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.
             J. Russell Porter, 713-739-1800
             Fax: 713-739-0458
             rporter@gastar.com
             www.gastar.com