8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2012 (July 30, 2012)

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

ALBERTA, CANADA    001-32714    98-0570897

DELAWARE    001-35211    38-3531640

(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission    (IRS Employer

of incorporation)    File Number)    Identification No.)

1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 650

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010

(Address of principal executive offices)

(713) 739-1800

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

1-LA/547960.2

SECTION 7 – REGULATION FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On July 30, 2012, Gastar Exploration Ltd. (the “Company”) announced that a mechanical failure and fire occurred at the third-party operated central receipt point that compresses and gathers all of the Company’s production in Marshall County, West Virginia on July 26, 2012, resulting in an immediate shut-down of operations. A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

On August 1, 2012, the Company announced that Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has declared a monthly cash dividend on its 8.625% Series A Preferred Stock for August 2012. A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information presented herein under Item 7.01 and set forth in the attached exhibits are deemed to be “furnished” solely pursuant to Item 7.01 of this report and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information or the exhibits be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

The following is a list of exhibits furnished as part of this Form 8-K:

Exhibit No.    Description of Document    

99.1 Press release dated July 30, 2012.

99.2 Press release dated August 1, 2012.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: August 1, 2012

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.

By:    /s/ J. RUSSELL PORTER    

J. Russell Porter

President and Chief Executive Officer

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.

By:    /s/ J. RUSSELL PORTER    

J. Russell Porter

President

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description of Document    

99.1 Press release dated July 30, 2012.

99.2 Press release dated August 1, 2012.

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EX-99.1

For Immediate Release NEWS RELEASE Contacts: Gastar Exploration Ltd. J. Russell Porter, Chief Executive Officer 713-739-1800 / rporter@gastar.com Investor Relations Counsel: Lisa Elliott / Anne Pearson DRG&L: 713-529-6600 lelliott@drg-l.com / apearson@drg-l.com 

Gastar Exploration Reports Temporary Shut-in of

Production in Marshall County, West Virginia

HOUSTON, July 30, 2012 – Gastar Exploration Ltd. (NYSE MKT: GST) reported today that a mechanical failure and fire occurred at the third-party operated midstream central receipt point that compresses and gathers all of the Company’s production in Marshall County, West Virginia on July 26, resulting in an immediate shut-down of production operations. There were no injuries or damage to Gastar’s property or facilities. The midstream operator has informed Gastar that it currently expects to complete repairs to the system and resume full operations by August 3rd.

About Gastar Exploration

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an independent company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States. Our principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. We are currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and, to a lesser extent, central and southwestern Pennsylvania. We also hold prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and in the Mid-Continent area of the United States. For more information, visit our web site at www.gastar.com.

Safe Harbor Statement and Disclaimer

This news release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward looking statements give our current expectations, opinion, belief or forecasts of future events and performance. A statement identified by the use of forward looking words including “may,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” 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 news release. These include risk inherent in natural gas and oil drilling and production activities, including risks of fire, explosion, blowouts, pipe failure, casing collapse, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, environmental hazards, and other operating and production risks, 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; delays in receipt of drilling permits; risks with respect to natural gas and oil prices, a material decline in which could cause Gastar to delay or suspend planned drilling operations or reduce production levels; 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; risks relating to unexpected adverse developments in the status of properties; risks relating to the absence or delay in receipt of government approvals or fourth party consents; and other risks described in Gastar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. By issuing forward looking statements based on current expectations, opinions, views or beliefs, Gastar has no obligation and, except as required by law, is not undertaking any obligation, to update or revise these statements or provide any other information relating to such statements.

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EX-99.2

For Immediate Release NEWS RELEASE Contacts: Gastar Exploration Ltd. J. Russell Porter, Chief Executive Officer 713-739-1800 / rporter@gastar.com Investor Relations Counsel: Lisa Elliott / Anne Pearson DRG&L: 713-529-6600 lelliott@drg-l.com / apearson@drg-l.com 

Gastar Exploration Ltd. Declares Monthly Cash Dividend on

8.625% Series A Preferred Stock of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

HOUSTON, August 1, 2012 – Gastar Exploration Ltd. (NYSE MKT: GST) (“Gastar”) announced today that Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of Gastar, has declared a monthly cash dividend on its 8.625% Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) for August 2012.

The dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock is payable on August 31, 2012 to holders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2012. The August 2012 dividend payment will be an annualized 8.625% per share, which is equivalent to $0.179688 per share, based on the $25.00 per share liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock is currently listed on the NYSE Amex and trades under the ticker symbol “GST.PRA.”

About Gastar Exploration

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an independent company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States. Gastar’s principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. Gastar is currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and, to a lesser extent, central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Gastar also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and in the Mid-Continent area of the United States. For more information, visit Gastar’s website at www.gastar.com.

Safe Harbor Statement and Disclaimer

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. 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 news release.

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