Gastar Exploration has successfully drilled the Belin #1 well, a deep Bossier test, to a total depth of 18,800 feet and has logged approximately 150 net feet of pay in the middle and lower Bossier formations.

The Belin #1 well contains three pay zones within the lower Bossier formation that, based on log analysis, have the highest measured porosity - up to 25% - of any wells drilled by Gastar in the deep Bossier play. The well also encountered two middle Bossier sands, including the Lanier Sand, in a downdip location in a new fault block with indicated pay based on log analysis.

The well is expected to be completed and producing within 30 days. Gastar owns a 52% working interest before payout (40% net revenue interest before payout) in the Belin #1.

"The Belin #1 well has the potential to be Gastar's best well to date in terms of estimated recoverable reserves and potential flowrate in the Hilltop area," said J. Russell Porter, Gastar's President and CEO.

"We plan to complete the well in the two deepest zones first, and we expect that to be a high-rate completion. We are also very encouraged by the fact that the Lanier Sand was present and has been shown to be productive in a downthrown fault block from the Wildman Trust #3 well, where the Lanier Sand was recently recompleted at an initial rate of 21 MMcf per day."

In addition, Gastar is currently drilling a sidetrack to the LOR #7 and expects to reach total depth close to year end. Gastar has a 50% working interest before payout (37.5% net revenue interest before payout) in the LOR #7.

Tags: Gastar Exploration Ltd.