Exhibit 99.1


               Gastar Exploration Announces Completion
                  of Donelson #3 and Wagner #1 Wells


    HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2007--Gastar Exploration Ltd.
(AMEX:GST) and (TSX:YGA) announced today completion results for the
Donelson #3 and Wagner #1 deep Bossier wells. The Donelson #3 well has
been completed in a single Bossier zone and placed on sales at an
initial restricted gross rate of approximately 10.6 MMCFD and 11,300
psi flowing casing pressure on a 14/64ths' inch choke. The Wagner #1
well has also been completed in a single Bossier zone and has tested
at an initial restricted gross sales rate of 7.25 MMCFD and 5,500 psi
flowing casing pressure on a 14/64ths' inch choke. Both wells are
producing at restricted rates due to temporarily high pipeline
pressures downstream from Gastar's sales point. When these
restrictions are removed, well tests indicate that both wells are
capable of higher gross sales rates. At the current restricted rates,
daily gross sales volumes in the Bossier have increased by
approximately 85% with the addition of these two wells to sales.
Gastar has a 67% working interest and an approximate 50.0% net revenue
interest in the Donelson #3 well and a 50% working interest and an
approximate 37.5% net revenue interest in the Wagner #1 well.

    Commenting on the results and on-going operations, J. Russell
Porter, Gastar's President & CEO, stated, "These are excellent results
especially considering that both completions are from single Bossier
zones and both wells are currently unable to flow at their full
potential due to higher than normal pipeline pressures in the area. We
are finalizing plans to add additional Bossier completions to the
Donelson #3 well over the course of the next several months as well as
additional future completions at a later date in the Wagner #1 well.
In addition, we are finalizing initial completion efforts on the John
Parker #3 Knowles Limestone well, which has been delayed due to
weather."

    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 operates
exploration and development acreage in the Deep Bossier gas play of
East Texas. Gastar's CBM activities are conducted within the Powder
River Basin of Wyoming and upon the approximate 3.0 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 27, 2007 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
             rporter@gastar.com
             or
             Michael A. Gerlich, 713-739-1800
             mgerlich@gastar.com
             Fax: 713-739-0458
             www.gastar.com