Subsidiaries of Gastar Exploration Inc. have begun drilling their fourth Deep Bossier well in the Hilltop area of East Texas, which management said could hold a “significant” deep natural gas discovery. The new well, the Gastar Greer #1 well (the Greer well), is located approximately 1/2 mile from the Gastar Fridkin-Kaufman Ltd, #1 well (the F-K #1 well) and has been permitted to a depth of 20,000 feet. Gastar expects to have an approximate 66% working interest position in the Greer #1 well and 640-acre unit. The well is expected to take approximately 110 days to drill and an additional 60 to 90 days to attempt completions and production tests if apparent pay sands are encountered. As a part of its drilling program, Gastar expects to partially test the aerial extent of the Hilltop discovery with wells planned in late 2005.

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