Exhibit 99.1


              Gastar Exploration Announces Successful Results from
                        Latest Bossier Drilling Activity


     HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2006--Gastar Exploration Ltd. (AMEX:GST)
and (TSX:YGA) is pleased to announce that it has drilled the Wildman Trust #2
well located in Leon County, Texas to a total depth of 19,500 feet and, based on
preliminary analysis of electric logs and gas shows encountered during drilling,
the well encountered approximately 220 net feet of apparent pay with high
indicated porosity in three separate middle Bossier sands and five separate
lower 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 of the
apparent lower Bossier pay zones. The completion activities are expected to take
approximately 30 days and, if successful, initial production is expected by
early-October 2006. Gastar has a 67% after casing point ("ACP") working interest
with Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) owning a 33% ACP working interest.
     Gastar's John Parker #2 well was spudded on August 19, 2006 and is
currently drilling at an approximate depth of 3,000 feet. The well is expected
to take approximately 100 days to reach an estimated total depth of 18,000 feet.
This well is targeting the same middle Bossier sands that appear productive in
Gastar's John Parker #1 well. Gastar's working interest in the John Parker #2
well is approximately 42% BCP (50% ACP) with Chesapeake Energy Corporation
holding a 33% BCP working interest (25% ACP working interest) and an unrelated
private exploration and production company holding the remaining 25% working
interest.
     Commenting on the announcement, J. Russell Porter, Gastar's Chief Executive
Officer, stated, "The Wildman Trust #2 well demonstrates the continuity of the
lower Bossier sands across the Hilltop structure. This well also discovered a
new series of middle Bossier sands that appear to be developing on the north and
east side of the Hilltop structure. From a gross sand and reserve potential
basis, this well appears to be the best well drilled to date by Gastar in the
deep Bossier play. Coming on the heels of our most recent successful middle
Bossier well, the John Parker #1, we believe this well is further confirmation
of the tremendous asset value that Gastar is developing on its deep Bossier
leasehold. Gastar plans on spudding an offset well to the Wildman Trust #2
within the next 7 to 10 days. That well, the Williams #1, will be positioned to
test the same middle and lower Bossier sands discovered in the Wildman Trust #2
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