10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

____________________________________________________

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2012

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                    TO                     .

Commission File Number: 001-32714

Commission File Number: 001-35211

____________________________________________________

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

____________________________________________________

Alberta, Canada	98-0570897
Delaware	38-3531640
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1331 Lamar Street, Suite 650
Houston, Texas	77010
(Address of principal executive offices)	(ZIP Code)

(713) 739-1800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

____________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   

Gastar Exploration Ltd.	Yes	ý	No	o
Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.	Yes	ý	No	o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    

Gastar Exploration Ltd.	Yes	ý	No	o
Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.	Yes	ý	No	o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Gastar Exploration Ltd.

Large accelerated filer	o	Accelerated filer	ý
Non-accelerated filer	o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	o

Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

Large accelerated filer	o	Accelerated filer	o
Non-accelerated filer	ý  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    

Gastar Exploration Ltd.	Yes	o	No	ý
Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.	Yes	o	No	ý

The total number of outstanding common shares, no par value per share, as of November 2, 2012 was

Gastar Exploration Ltd.	65,663,063	shares of common stock
Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.	750	shares of common stock

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements	4
	Gastar Exploration Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011	4
	Gastar Exploration Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)	5
	Gastar Exploration Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)	6
	Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011	7
	Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)	8
	Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)	9
	Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	10
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	26
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	36
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	37
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	38
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	38
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	38
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	38
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosure	38
Item 5.	Other Information	38
Item 6.	Exhibits	38
SIGNATURES		40

Unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, (i) “Gastar,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer collectively to Gastar Exploration Ltd. and its subsidiaries, including Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., and predecessors, (ii) “Gastar USA” refers to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., our first-tier subsidiary and primary operating company, (iii) “Parent” refers solely to Gastar Exploration Ltd., (iv) all dollar amounts appearing in this report on Form 10-Q are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted and (v) all financial data included in this report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

General information about us can be found on our website at www.gastar.com. The information available on or through our website, or about us on any other website, is neither incorporated into, nor part of, this report. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings that we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, will be available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish them to the SEC. Information is also available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov for our U.S. filings.

2

Glossary of Terms

AMI	Area of Mutual Interest, an agreed designated geographic area where joint venturers or other industry partners have a right of participation in acquisitions and operations
Bbl	Barrel of oil, condensate or NGLs
Bbl/d	Barrels of oil, condensate or NGLs per day
Btu	British thermal unit, typically used in measuring natural gas energy content
CRP	Central receipt point
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board
MBbl	One thousand barrels of oil, condensate or NGLs
MBbl/d	One thousand barrels of oil, condensate or NGLs per day
Mcf	One thousand cubic feet of natural gas
Mcf/d	One thousand cubic feet of natural gas per day
MMBtu/d	One million British thermal units per day
MMcf	One million cubic feet of natural gas
MMcf/d	One million cubic feet of natural gas per day
Mcfe	One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent
MMcfe	One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent
MMcfe/d	One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day
NGLs	Natural gas liquids
NYMEX	New York Mercantile Exchange
psi	Pounds per square inch

3

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,103		$	10,647
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $546 and $551, respectively	8,277			10,706
Commodity derivative contracts	11,446			19,385
Prepaid expenses	799			1,243
Total current assets	29,625			41,981
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Natural gas and oil properties, full cost method of accounting:
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization	74,954			78,302
Proved properties	623,112			514,357
Total natural gas and oil properties	698,066			592,659
Furniture and equipment	1,864			1,629
Total property, plant and equipment	699,930			594,288
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(479,079		)	(308,548		)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	220,851			285,740
OTHER ASSETS:
Restricted cash	—			50
Commodity derivative contracts	2,685			4,130
Deferred charges, net	709			535
Advances to operators and other assets	501			2,067
Total other assets	3,895			6,782
TOTAL ASSETS	$	254,371		$	334,503
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	11,720		$	17,693
Revenue payable	8,811			4,137
Accrued interest	136			144
Accrued drilling and operating costs	6,923			4,647
Advances from non-operators	18,438			19,523
Commodity derivative contracts	2,578			6,479
Commodity derivative premium payable	1,414			4,725
Accrued litigation settlement liability	—			800
Other accrued liabilities	2,407			1,723
Total current liabilities	52,427			59,871
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	70,000			30,000
Commodity derivative contracts	2,452			1,163
Asset retirement obligation	6,689			8,275
Total long-term liabilities	79,141			39,438
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; 65,663,063 and 64,706,750 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	316,346			316,346
Additional paid-in capital	27,618			25,376
Accumulated deficit	(297,721		)	(133,919		)
Total shareholders' equity	46,243			207,803
Non-controlling interest:
Preferred stock of subsidiary, aggregate liquidation preference $98,674 and $34,114 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	76,560			27,391
Total equity	122,803			235,194
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	254,371		$	334,503

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands, except share and per share data)
REVENUES:
Natural gas	$	8,906		$	8,613		$	22,499		$	25,184
Oil	3,457			736			7,748			2,707
NGLs	2,483			239			6,394			239
Total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	14,846			9,588			36,641			28,130
Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(5,403		)	2,424			(4,123		)	1,027
Total revenues	9,443			12,012			32,518			29,157
EXPENSES:
Production taxes	560			157			1,494			384
Lease operating expenses	780			2,363			4,754			5,945
Transportation, treating and gathering	1,305			1,128			3,715			3,354
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	7,135			3,694			19,744			10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054			—			150,787			—
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	101			138			284			392
General and administrative expense	2,951			3,100			9,263			8,576
Litigation settlement expense	—			—			1,250			—
Total expenses	90,886			10,580			191,291			29,448
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	(81,443		)	1,432			(158,773		)	(291		)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(30		)	(24		)	(86		)	(87		)
Investment income and other	2			2			6			7
Foreign transaction loss	(2		)	(8		)	(2		)	(5		)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	(81,473		)	1,402			(158,855		)	(376		)
Provision for income taxes	—			—			—			—
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(81,473		)	1,402			(158,855		)	(376		)
Dividend on preferred stock attributable to non-controlling interest	1,984			388			4,947			419
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.	$	(83,457	)	$	1,014		$	(163,802	)	$	(795	)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:
Basic	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02		$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Diluted	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02		$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic	63,601,645			63,238,069			63,494,224			62,901,860
Diluted	63,601,645			63,842,098			63,494,224			62,901,860

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(158,855	)	$	(376	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	19,744			10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	150,787			—
Stock-based compensation	2,575			2,003
Unrealized hedge (gain) loss	4,123			(1,027		)
Realized gain on derivative contracts	(662		)	(1,303		)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	157			193
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	284			392
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,429			(4,199		)
Commodity derivative contracts	—			(54		)
Prepaid expenses	345			765
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	129			774
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,056			7,965
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Development and purchase of natural gas and oil properties	(100,606		)	(58,672		)
Advances to operators	(4,282		)	(3,299		)
(Use of proceeds) proceeds from non-operators	(1,085		)	27,794
Purchase of furniture and equipment	(235		)	(346		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(106,208		)	(34,523		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	70,000			41,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(30,000		)	(31,000		)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs	49,169			16,855
Dividend on preferred stock attributable to non-controlling interest	(4,947		)	(419		)
Deferred financing charges	(332		)	(13		)
Other	(282		)	(336		)
Net cash provided by financing activities	83,608			26,087
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,544		)	(471		)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	10,647			7,439
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	9,103		$	6,968

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,009		$	10,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $546 and $551, respectively	8,276			10,703
Commodity derivative contracts	11,446			19,385
Prepaid expenses	774			1,088
Total current assets	29,505			41,771
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Natural gas and oil properties, full cost method of accounting:
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization	74,954			78,302
Proved properties	623,104			514,349
Total natural gas and oil properties	698,058			592,651
Furniture and equipment	1,864			1,629
Total property, plant and equipment	699,922			594,280
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(479,072		)	(308,541		)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	220,850			285,739
OTHER ASSETS:
Restricted cash	—			25
Commodity derivative contracts	2,685			4,130
Deferred charges, net	709			535
Advances to operators and other assets	501			2,067
Total other assets	3,895			6,757
TOTAL ASSETS	$	254,250		$	334,267
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	11,695		$	17,682
Revenue payable	8,811			4,137
Accrued interest	136			144
Accrued drilling and operating costs	6,923			4,647
Advances from non-operators	18,438			19,523
Commodity derivative contracts	2,578			6,479
Commodity derivative premium payable	1,414			4,725
Accrued litigation settlement liability	—			800
Other accrued liabilities	2,180			1,654
Total current liabilities	52,175			59,791
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	70,000			30,000
Commodity derivative contracts	2,452			1,163
Asset retirement obligation	6,682			8,268
Due to parent	30,810			27,432
Total long-term liabilities	109,944			66,863
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 3,946,950 and 1,364,543 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, with liquidation preference of $25.00 per share	39			14
Common stock, no par value; 1,000 shares authorized; 750 shares issued and outstanding	237,431			239,431
Additional paid-in capital	76,521			27,377
Accumulated deficit	(221,860		)	(59,209		)
Total stockholders' equity	92,131			207,613
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	254,250		$	334,267

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

7

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands, except share and per share data)
REVENUES:
Natural gas	$	8,906		$	8,613		$	22,499		$	25,184
Oil	3,457			736			7,748			2,707
NGLs	2,483			239			6,394			239
Total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	14,846			9,588			36,641			28,130
Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(5,403		)	2,424			(4,123		)	1,027
Total revenues	9,443			12,012			32,518			29,157
EXPENSES:
Production taxes	560			157			1,494			384
Lease operating expenses	780			2,363			4,754			5,944
Transportation, treating and gathering	1,305			1,128			3,715			3,354
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	7,135			3,694			19,744			10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054			—			150,787			—
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	101			138			284			392
General and administrative expense	2,481			2,879			8,105			7,992
Litigation settlement expense	—			—			1,250			—
Total expenses	90,416			10,359			190,133			28,863
INOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	(80,973		)	1,653			(157,615		)	294
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(30		)	(24		)	(87		)	(86		)
Investment income and other	(5		)	(1		)	(4		)	96
Foreign transaction gain (loss)	1			(5		)	2			(2		)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	(81,007		)	1,623			(157,704		)	302
Provision for income taxes	—			—			—			—
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(81,007		)	1,623			(157,704		)	302
Dividend on preferred stock	1,984			388			4,947			419
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDER	$	(82,991	)	$	1,235		$	(162,651	)	$	(117	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

8

GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	(157,704	)	$	302
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	19,744			10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	150,787			—
Stock-based compensation	2,575			2,003
Unrealized hedge (gain) loss	4,123			(1,027		)
Realized gain on derivative contracts	(662		)	(1,303		)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	157			193
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	284			392
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,427			(4,193		)
Commodity derivative contracts	—			(54		)
Prepaid expenses	215			601
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(43		)	675
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,903			8,386
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Development and purchase of natural gas and oil properties	(100,606		)	(58,672		)
Advances to operators	(4,282		)	(3,299		)
(Use of proceeds) proceeds from non-operators	(1,085		)	27,794
Purchase of furniture and equipment	(235		)	(346		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(106,208		)	(34,523		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	70,000			41,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(30,000		)	(31,000		)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs	49,169			16,855
Dividend on preferred stock	(4,947		)	(419		)
Deferred financing charges	(332		)	(13		)
Dividend to parent, net	(1,196		)	(836		)
Other	25			100
Net cash provided by financing activities	82,719			25,687
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,586		)	(450		)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	10,595			7,401
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	9,009		$	6,951

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

9

GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Description of Business

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States (“U.S.”). Gastar Exploration Ltd.’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 Exploration Ltd. is currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale play in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Gastar Exploration Ltd. also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in East Texas and in the Mid-Continent area of the U.S.

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is a holding company and substantially all of its operations are conducted through, and substantially all of its assets are held by, its primary operating subsidiary, Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, all references in these notes to “Gastar USA” refer collectively to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, all references to “Parent” refer solely to Gastar Exploration Ltd., and all references to “Gastar,” the “Company” and similar terms refer collectively to Gastar Exploration Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC. Please refer to the notes to the financial statements included in the 2011 Form 10-K for additional details of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. All material items included in those notes have not changed except as a result of normal transactions in the interim or as disclosed within this report.

These financial statements are a combined presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and Gastar USA. Separate information is provided for the Company and Gastar USA as required. Except as otherwise noted, there are no material differences between the unaudited condensed consolidated information for the Company presented herein and the unaudited condensed consolidated information of Gastar USA.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and Gastar USA included herein are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted and were prepared from the records of the Company and Gastar USA by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to interim financial statements and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair presentation of the results of operations and financial position for the interim periods. Such financial statements conform to the presentation reflected in the 2011 Form 10-K. The current interim period reported herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes, including Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the 2011 Form 10-K.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the estimate of proved natural gas and oil reserve quantities and the related present value of estimated future net cash flows.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Parent and the consolidated accounts of all of its subsidiaries, including Gastar USA. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Gastar USA include the accounts of Gastar USA and the consolidated accounts of all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain reclassifications of prior year balances have been made to conform to the current year presentation; these reclassifications have no impact on net income (loss).

The results of operations for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued and has disclosed certain subsequent events in these condensed consolidated financial statements, as appropriate.

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Recent Accounting Developments

The following recently issued accounting pronouncements have been adopted or may impact the Company in future periods:

Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to previously issued guidance regarding the reporting and presentation of other comprehensive income. The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income and the total of comprehensive income. Regardless of whether an entity chooses to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements, the entity is required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. Earlier application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not impact our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurement. In May 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to previously issued guidance regarding fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The amendments explain how to measure fair value and do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The amendments result in common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not impact our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

3. Property, Plant and Equipment

The amount capitalized as natural gas and oil properties was incurred for the purchase and development of various properties in the U.S., specifically the states of Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming and Montana and the Mid-Continent area. The Company's working interest in its Wyoming and Montana properties in the Powder River Basin were assigned to the operator on May 3, 2012, effective January 1, 2012.

The following table summarizes the components of unproved properties excluded from amortization for the periods indicated:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization:
Drilling in progress costs	$	3,155	$	3,958
Acreage acquisition costs	67,590		68,217
Capitalized interest	4,209		6,127
Total unproved properties excluded from amortization	$	74,954	$	78,302

For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, management's evaluation of unproved properties resulted in an impairment. Due to a decline in natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in East Texas, the Company reclassified $19.1 million of unproved properties to proved properties at September 30, 2012.

The full cost method of accounting for natural gas and oil properties requires a quarterly calculation of a limitation on capitalized costs, often referred to as a full cost ceiling calculation. The ceiling is the present value of estimated future cash flow from proved natural gas and oil reserves reduced by future operating expenses, development expenditures, abandonment costs (net of salvage) to the extent not included in natural gas and oil properties pursuant to authoritative guidance and estimated future income taxes thereon. To the extent that our capitalized costs (net of accumulated depletion and deferred taxes) exceed the ceiling, the excess must be written off to expense. Once incurred, this impairment of natural gas and oil properties is not reversible at a later date even if natural gas and oil prices increase. The ceiling calculation dictates that the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month prices and costs in effect are held constant indefinitely.

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Management’s ceiling test evaluation for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 resulted in an impairment of proved natural gas and oil properties of $150.8 million recorded at September 30, 2012. Management's ceiling test evaluation for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 did not result in an impairment of proved natural gas and oil properties. The following table provides the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the equivalent realized price utilized in the ceiling testevaluations for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Average price per Mcfe	$	3.69	$	4.59

Given the current price environment, the Company expects that future declines in the 12-month average of natural gas, oil and NGLs prices will likely result in the recognition of future ceiling impairments in 2012.

Atinum Joint Venture

In September 2010, Gastar USA entered into a joint venture (the “Atinum Joint Venture”) pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement with an affiliate of Atinum Partners Co., Ltd. (“Atinum”), a Korean investment firm. Pursuant to the agreement, at the closing of the transactions on November 1, 2010, Gastar USA assigned to Atinum an initial 21.43% interest in all of its existing Marcellus Shale assets in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, which consisted of approximately 37,600 gross (34,200 net) acres and a 50% working interest in 16 producing shallow conventional wells and one non-producing vertical Marcellus Shale well (the “Atinum Joint Venture Assets”). Atinum paid Gastar USA approximately $30.0 million in cash at the closing and paid additional $40.0 million of Gastar USA's share of drilling costs over time in the form of a “drilling carry.” Upon completion of the funding of the drilling carry, Gastar USA made additional assignments to Atinum in early 2012 as a result of which Atinum owns a 50% interest in the Atinum Joint Venture Assets. The terms of the drilling carry required Atinum to fund its ultimate 50% share of drilling, completion and infrastructure costs along with 75% of Gastar USA’s ultimate 50% share of those same costs until the $40.0 million drilling carry had been satisfied. As of December 31, 2011, Atinum had completed the funding of the $40.0 million drilling carry. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, Atinum funds only its 50% share of costs.

The Atinum Joint Venture is pursuing an initial three-year development program that calls for the partners to drill a minimum of 12 horizontal wells in 2011 and 24 operated horizontal wells in each of 2012 and 2013, respectively. Due to recent natural gas price declines, Atinum and Gastar USA agreed to reduce the 2012 minimum wells to be drilled requirement from 24 wells to 20 wells. As of September 30, 2012, 35 operated wells were drilled and cased under the Atinum Joint Venture. Subsequent to June 30, 2011, an AMI was established for additional acreage acquisitions in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, excluding the counties of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph and Tucker, West Virginia. Within this AMI, Gastar USA acts as operator and is obligated to offer any future lease acquisitions within the AMI to Atinum on a 50/50 basis, and Atinum will pay Gastar USA on an annual basis an amount equal to 10% of lease bonuses and third party leasing costs up to $20.0 million and 5% of such costs on activities above $20.0 million.

4. Long-Term Debt

Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility

On October 28, 2009, Gastar USA, together with the other parties thereto, entered into an amended and restated credit facility (as amended and restated, the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility provided an initial borrowing base of $47.5 million, with borrowings bearing interest, at Gastar USA’s election, at the prime rate or LIBO rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable interest rate margin varies from 1.0% to 2.0% in the case of borrowings based on the prime rate and from 2.5% to 3.5% in the case of borrowings based on LIBO rate, depending on the utilization percentage in relation to the borrowing base. An annual commitment fee of 0.5% is payable quarterly based on the unutilized balance of the borrowing base. The Revolving Credit Facility had a scheduled maturity date of January 2, 2013.

The Revolving Credit Facility is guaranteed by Parent (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) and all of Gastar USA’s current domestic subsidiaries and all future domestic subsidiaries formed during the term of the Revolving Credit Facility. Borrowings and related guarantees are secured by a first priority lien on all domestic natural gas and oil properties currently owned by or later acquired by Gastar USA and its subsidiaries, excluding de minimus value properties as determined by the lender. The facility is secured by a first priority pledge of the stock of each domestic subsidiary, a first priority interest on all accounts receivable, notes receivable, inventory, contract rights, general intangibles and material property of the issuer and 65% of the stock of each foreign subsidiary of Gastar USA.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains various covenants, including among others:

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• Restrictions on liens, incurrence of other indebtedness without lenders' consent and dividends and other restricted payments;

• Maintenance of a minimum consolidated current ratio as of the end of each quarter of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, as adjusted;

• Maintenance of a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA on a rolling four quarter basis, as adjusted, of not greater than 4.0 to 1.0; and

• Maintenance of an interest coverage ratio on a rolling four quarters basis, as adjusted, of EBITDA to interest expense, as of the end of each quarter, to be less than 2.5 to 1.0.

All outstanding amounts owed become due and payable upon the occurrence of certain usual and customary events of default, including among others:

• Failure to make payments;

• Non-performance of covenants and obligations continuing beyond any applicable grace period; and

• The occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) of the Parent.

Should there occur a Change in Control of Parent, then, five days after such occurrence, immediately and without notice, (i) all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility shall automatically become immediately due and payable and (ii) the commitments shall immediately cease and terminate unless and until reinstated by the lender in writing. If amounts outstanding become immediately due and payable, the obligation of Gastar USA with respect to any commodity hedge exposure shall be to provide cash as collateral to be held and administered by the lender as collateral agent.

On June 24, 2010, Gastar USA, together with the other parties thereto, entered into the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) amending that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 28, 2009 (as amended by that certain Consent and First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated November 20, 2009, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment (as defined below) and the Fourth Amendment (as defined below), the “Credit Agreement”) . The Second Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility, by, among other things, (i) allowing Gastar USA to hedge up to 80% of the proved developed producing (“PDP”) reserves reflected in its reserve report using hedging other than floors and protective spreads, (ii) allowing Gastar USA to present to the administrative agent a report showing any PDP additions resulting from new wells or the conversion of proved developed non-producing reserves to PDP reserves since the last reserve report in order to hedge the revised PDP reserves, and (iii) removing the limitations on hedging using floors and protective spreads.

On June 14, 2011, Gastar USA, together with the parties thereto, entered into the Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”). The Third Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility by, among other things, allowing Gastar USA to issue Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below) described in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 7 – Capital Stock” of this report and pay cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock of no more than $10.0 million in the aggregate in each calendar year and as long as payment of such dividends does not exceed 10% of the current availability under the then existing borrowing base.

On December 2, 2011, Gastar USA, together with the parties thereto, entered into the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, effective as of November 10, 2011 (the “Fourth Amendment”). The Fourth Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility, by, among other things, (i) extending the maturity date on borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility to September 30, 2015; (ii) allowing Gastar USA to hedge up to 100% of the PDP reserves reflected in its reserve report using hedging other than floors and protective spreads; and (iii) allowing no more than ten separate LIBO Rate Loans to be outstanding at one time.

Borrowing base redeterminations are scheduled semi-annually in May and November of each calendar year. Gastar USA and its lenders may request one additional unscheduled redetermination annually. As of December 31, 2011, the Revolving Credit Facility had a borrowing base of $50.0 million, with $30.0 million of borrowings outstanding and availability of $20.0 million. Gastar USA requested that the May 2012 redetermination be accelerated to March 2012. On March 5, 2012, Gastar USA was notified by its lenders that, effective immediately, the borrowing base was increased from $50.0 million to $100.0 million. Gastar USA requested that the November 2012 redetermination be accelerated to September 2012. On October 19, 2012, Gastar USA was notified by its lenders that, effective September 30, 2012, the borrowing base was increased from $100.0 million to $110.0 million. At September 30, 2012, the Revolving Credit Facility had a borrowing base of $110.0 million, with $70.0 million of borrowings outstanding and availability of $40.0 million. The next regularly scheduled redetermination is set for May 2013.

At September 30, 2012, Gastar USA was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Other Debt

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Credit support for the Company’s open derivatives at September 30, 2012 is provided under the Revolving Credit Facility through inter-creditor agreements or open accounts of up to $5.0 million.

5. Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company discloses its recognized non-financial assets and liabilities, such as asset retirement obligations, unproved properties and other property and equipment, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. For non-financial assets and liabilities, the Company is required to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop these measurements. The Company assesses its unproved properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of those properties may not be recoverable. The fair value of the unproved properties is measured using an income approach based upon internal estimates of future production levels, current and future prices, drilling and operating costs, discount rates, current drilling plans and favorable and unfavorable drilling activity on the properties being evaluated and/or adjacent properties, which are Level 3 inputs. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, management's evaluation of unproved properties resulted in an impairment. Due to a decline in natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in East Texas, the Company reclassified $19.1 million of unproved properties to proved properties at September 30, 2012. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, the Company did not recognize an impairment of unproved properties. As no other fair value measurements are required to be recognized on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2012, no additional disclosures are provided at September 30, 2012.

As defined in the guidance, fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). To estimate fair value, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (“Level 1”) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (“Level 3”). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

• Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments, which have maturities of 90 days or less, including sweep investments and money market funds.

• Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

• Level 3 inputs are measured based on prices or valuation models that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies or third party broker quotes that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. The Company’s valuation models consider various inputs including (a) quoted forward prices for commodities, (b) time value, (c) volatility factors and (d) current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Level 3 instruments are commodity costless collars, index swaps, basis and fixed price swaps and put and call options to hedge natural gas, oil and NGLs price risk. At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an analysis of all applicable instruments and includes in Level 3 all of those whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs. The fair values derived from counterparties and third-party brokers are verified using publicly available values for relevant NYMEX futures contracts and exchange traded contracts for each derivative settlement location. Although such counterparty and third-party broker quotes are used to assess the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments, the Company does not have access to the specific assumptions used in its counterparties valuation models. Consequently, additional disclosures regarding significant Level 3 unobservable inputs were not provided andthe Company does not currently have sufficient corroborating market evidence to support classifying these contracts as Level 2 instruments.

As required, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The determination of the fair values below incorporates various factors, including the impact of the counterparty’s non-performance risk with respect to the Company’s financial assets and the Company’s non-performance risk with respect to the Company’s financial liabilities. The Company has not elected to offset the fair value amounts recognized for multiple derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty, but reports them gross on its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers between levels during the 2012 and 2011 periods.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	Fair value as of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,103	$	—	$	—		$	9,103
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		14,131			14,131
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(5,030		)	(5,030		)
Total	$	9,103	$	—	$	9,101		$	18,204
	Fair value as of December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	10,647	$	—	$	—		$	10,647
Restricted cash	50		—		—			50
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		23,515			23,515
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(7,642		)	(7,642		)
Total	$	10,697	$	—	$	15,873		$	26,570

The table below presents a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011. Level 3 instruments presented in the table consist of net derivatives that, in management’s opinion, reflect the assumptions a marketplace participant would have used at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	15,460		$	13,286		$	15,873		$	15,199
Total gains (losses) (realized or unrealized):
included in earnings	(2,045		)	4,813			4,594			7,596
included in other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—
Purchases	—			—			—			—
Issuances	—			—			—			—
Settlements (1)	(4,314		)	(2,853		)	(11,366		)	(7,549		)
Transfers in and (out) of Level 3	—			—			—			—
Balance at end of period	$	9,101		$	15,246		$	9,101		$	15,246
The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or (losses) relating to assets still held at September 30, 2012 and 2011	$	(5,403	)	$	2,424		$	(4,123	)	$	1,027

 _________________________________

(1) Included in total revenues on the statement of operations.

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At September 30, 2012, the estimated fair value of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts and revenue payables and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt at September 30, 2012 approximates the respective carrying value because the interest rate approximates the current market rate (Level 2).

The Company has consistently applied the valuation techniques discussed above in all periods presented.

The fair value guidance, as amended, establishes that every derivative instrument is to be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. See Note 6, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity.”

6. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

The Company maintains a commodity price risk management strategy that uses derivative instruments to minimize significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in commodity prices. The Company uses costless collars, index, basis and fixed price swaps and put and call options to hedge natural gas, oil and NGLs price risk.

All derivative contracts are carried at their fair value on the balance sheet and all unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the statement of operations in unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss), while realized gains and losses related to contract settlements are recognized in natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported unrealized losses of $5.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statement of operations related to the change in the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company reported unrealized gains of $2.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statement of operations related to the change in the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments.

As of September 30, 2012, the following natural gas derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price			Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in MMBtu's)
2012	Put spread	16,566	1,524,040	$	—		$	6.00	$	4.00	$	—	$	—
2012	Costless three-way collar	7,391	679,960	—			5.73		4.00		—		6.88
2012	Call spread	2,000	184,000	—			—		—		4.00		4.50
2012	Basis - HSC (1)	5,000	460,000	(0.08		)	—		—		—		—
2013	Call spread	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		4.75		5.25
2013	Costless three-way collar	2,500	912,500	—			5.00		4.00		—		6.45
2013	Protective spread	8,000	2,920,000	4.91			—		3.23		—		—
2013 (2)	Protective spread	4,025	853,200	3.70			—		3.00		—		—
2013	Basis - HSC (1)	4,000	1,460,000	(0.11		)	—		—		—		—
2014	Short calls	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		—		6.00
2014	Costless three-way collar	3,000	1,095,000	—			4.00		3.00		—		4.36
2014	Costless three-way collar	5,000	1,825,000	—			3.75		3.00		—		4.55

 _______________________________

(1) East Houston-Katy - Houston Ship Channel

(2) For the period January to July 2013

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As of September 30, 2012, the following crude derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume (1)	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	600	55,200	$	102.01	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Put spread	400	146,000	—		100.75		70.00		—		—
2014	Costless three-way collar	200	73,000	—		90.00		70.00		—		106.20

 _______________________________

(1) Crude volumes hedged include oil, condensate and certain components of our NGLs production.

As of September 30, 2012, the following NGLs derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	250	23,000	$	49.59	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Fixed price swap	175	63,750	42.06		—		—		—		—

As of September 30, 2012, all of the Company’s economic derivative hedge positions were with a multinational energy company or large financial institutions, which are not known to the Company to be in default on their derivative positions. Credit support for the Company’s open derivatives at September 30, 2012 is provided under the Revolving Credit Facility through inter-creditor agreements or open credit accounts of up to $5.0 million. The Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent of non-performance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts discussed above; however, the Company does not anticipate non-performance by such counterparties. None of the Company’s derivative instruments contains credit-risk related contingent features.

In conjunction with certain derivative hedging activity, the Company deferred the payment of certain put premiums for the production month period July 2010 through December 2012. The put premium liabilities become payable monthly as the hedge production month becomes the prompt production month. The Company began amortizing the deferred put premium liabilities during July 2010. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had current commodity derivative premium payable liabilities of $1.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

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Additional Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The tables below provide information on the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position and derivative gains and losses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments:

	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Derivative Assets (Liabilities)
		Fair Value
	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Current assets	$	11,446		$	19,385
Commodity derivative contracts	Other assets	2,685			4,130
Commodity derivative contracts	Current liabilities	(2,578		)	(6,479		)
Commodity derivative contracts	Long-term liabilities	(2,452		)	(1,163		)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	9,101		$	15,873
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Three Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	3,358		$	2,389
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(5,403		)	2,424
Total		$	(2,045	)	$	4,813
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Nine Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	8,717		$	6,569
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(4,123		)	1,027
Total		$	4,594		$	7,596

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7. Capital Stock

Other Share Issuances

The following table provides information regarding the issuances and forfeitures of Parent’s common shares pursuant to Parent’s 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Other share issuances:
Restricted common shares granted	—	1,116,935
Restricted common shares vested	127,250	496,299
Stock options exercised	—	3,000
Common shares forfeited (1)	34,111	139,101
Common shares canceled	26,195	26,871

 __________________

(1) Represents common shares forfeited in connection with the payment of estimated withholding taxes on restricted common shares that vested and with the payment of the exercise price and estimated withholding taxes on option exercises during the period.

On June 7, 2012, Parent's shareholders voted to approve the Second Amendment to Parent's 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. This amendment, effective June 3, 2012, increased the total number of shares available for issuance under the plan from 6,000,000 shares to 11,000,000 shares. There were 5,192,527 shares available for issuance under the Parent's 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan at September 30, 2012.

Shares Reserved

At September 30, 2012, Parent had 978,550 common shares reserved for the exercise of stock options.

Gastar USA Common Stock

Prior to its conversion, as described below, Gastar USA’s articles of incorporation allowed Gastar USA to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, without par value. There were 750 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of which were held by Parent.

On May 24, 2011, Gastar USA converted from a Michigan corporation to a Delaware corporation (the “Conversion”). Following the Conversion, Gastar USA’s new Delaware certificate of incorporation allows Gastar USA to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, without par value. In connection with the Conversion, the Parent’s 750 shares of common stock in the Michigan corporation were converted to 750 shares of common stock in the new Gastar USA Delaware corporation.

Gastar USA Preferred Stock

Prior to the Conversion, Gastar USA’s articles of incorporation did not authorize issuance of preferred stock.

Following the Conversion, Gastar USA’s new Delaware certificate of incorporation allows Gastar USA to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with $0.01 par value. The preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Gastar USA’s Board of Directors (the “Gastar USA Board”) is authorized to fix the number of shares of any series of preferred stock and to determine the designation of any such series. The Gastar USA Board is also authorized to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of preferred stock and, within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Gastar USA Board originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issues shares of that series).

On June 23, 2011, Gastar USA sold an aggregate of 646,295 shares of its 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share and liquidation preference $25.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) through a best efforts underwritten public offering. The net proceeds to Gastar USA were approximately $13.6 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses.

On June 29, 2011, Gastar USA entered into an at-the-market sales agreement (“ATM Agreement”) with McNicoll, Lewis & Vlak LLC (“MLV”). According to the provisions of the ATM agreement, Gastar USA may offer and sell from time to time up

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to 3,400,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock through MLV, as its sales agent. Sales of the units will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE at market prices, in block transactions or as otherwise agreed between Gastar USA and MLV.

For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, Gastar USA sold 2,582,407 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $49.2 million, resulting in 3,946,950 total shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued for net proceeds of $76.6 million at September 30, 2012. From October 1, 2012 to November 5, 2012, Gastar USA sold an additional 4,304 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $84,000.

The Series A Preferred Stock is subordinated to all of Gastar USA’s existing and future debt and all future capital stock designated as senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Parent has entered into a guarantee agreement, whereby it will fully and unconditionally guarantee the payment of dividends that have been declared by the board of directors of Gastar USA, amounts payable upon redemption or liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and any other amounts due with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, to the extent described in the guarantee agreement. Parent’s obligations with respect to the guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all of its existing and future debt.

The Series A Preferred Stock cannot be converted into common stock of Gastar USA or the Company, but may be redeemed by Gastar USA, at Gastar USA’s option, on or after June 23, 2014 for $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends or in certain circumstances prior to such date as a result of a change in control. Following a change in control, Gastar USA will have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days after the date on which the change in control occurs, for cash at the following prices per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared), up to the redemption date:

Redemption Date	Redemption Price
On or after June 23, 2012 and prior to June 23, 2013	$	25.50
On or after June 23, 2013 and prior to June 23, 2014	$	25.25
On or after June 23, 2014	$	25.00

Gastar USA will pay cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock at a fixed rate of 8.625% per annum of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, Gastar USA paid dividends of $2.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively.

8. Interest Expense

The following table summarizes the components of interest expense for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Interest expense:
Cash and accrued	$	549		$	180		$	1,272		$	559
Amortization of deferred financing costs	60			65			157			193
Capitalized interest	(579		)	(221		)	(1,343		)	(665		)
Total interest expense	$	30		$	24		$	86		$	87

9. Related Party Transactions

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”) acquired 6,781,768 of Parent’s common shares during 2005 to 2007 in a series of private placement transactions. As a result of its share ownership, Chesapeake has the right to have an observer present at meetings of the Parent’s board of directors.

As of September 30, 2012, Chesapeake owned 6,781,768 of Parent’s common shares, or 10.3% of the Parent’s outstanding common shares.

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10. Income Taxes

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company did not recognize a current income tax benefit or provision.

11. Earnings per Share

In accordance with the provisions of current authoritative guidance, basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings or loss per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the assumed issuance of common shares for all potentially dilutive securities. Diluted amounts are not included in the computation of diluted loss per share, as such would be anti-dilutive.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012			2011
	(in thousands, except per share and share data)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd.	$	(83,457	)	$	1,014	$	(163,802	)	$	(795	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	63,601,645			63,238,069		63,494,224			62,901,860
Incremental shares from unvested restricted shares	—			551,687		—			—
Incremental shares from outstanding stock options	—			52,342		—			—
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	63,601,645			63,842,098		63,494,224			62,901,860
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Diluted	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive:
Unvested restricted shares	1,878,355			500		1,654,439			149,960
Stock options	979,725			838,200		926,271			857,825
Warrants	—			2,000,000		—			2,000,000
Total	2,858,080			2,838,700		2,580,710			3,007,785

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Chesapeake Exploration L.L.C. (“Chesapeake Exploration”) and Chesapeake Energy Corp.  (“Chesapeake Energy”) v. Gastar Exploration Ltd., Gastar Exploration Texas, LP, and Gastar Exploration Texas, LLC (No. 4:12-cv-2922), United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.  This lawsuit, filed on October 1, 2012, re-asserts the same claims for rescission of the November 2005 Agreements (as defined below) and for recovery of amounts paid under those agreements that Chesapeake Exploration and Chesapeake Energy (collectively, “Chesapeake”) previously asserted in the cross-action filed against the Company in the Navasota litigation described below, as previously disclosed in the Company's filings. In March 2011, Chesapeake dismissed its cross-claims against the Company in the Navasota litigation, without prejudice to their re-filing. In this new lawsuit, Chesapeake re-asserts those claims, seeking rescission of (a) a Purchase and Sale and Exploration and Development Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”), relating to properties in the Hilltop Prospect in Texas, (b) an Exploration and Development Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership, (c) a Common Share Purchase Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Energy, and (d) a Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Energy, all effective as of November 4, 2005 (collectively, “the November 2005 Agreements”), based on an alleged “mutual mistake” and alleged failure of consideration.  Chesapeake alleges that the parties to the November 2005 Agreements

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believed that the Gastar defendants had the right to convey to Chesapeake Exploration the properties that were the subject of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, notwithstanding the exercise by Navasota Resources LP (“Navasota”) of a preferential right to purchase the interest in the Hilltop Prospect properties. The dispute over the validity of Navasota's exercise of its preferential right to purchase was the subject of litigation filed by Navasota prior to the execution of the November 2005 Agreements.  Chesapeake claims that the Texas Court of Appeals' subsequent ruling in that litigation upholding the validity of Navasota's exercise of the preferential right to purchase establishes that there was a mutual mistake of fact and a failure of consideration with regard to the November 2005 Agreements. In the alternative, Chesapeake claims that the Gastar defendants have been unjustly enriched at the expense of Chesapeake by the funds paid by Chesapeake to the Gastar defendants. In their complaint filed in the lawsuit, Chesapeake offers to return Parent's common shares purchased pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, and seeks restitution from the Gastar defendants of the net amount of approximately $101.4 million, which includes the $76.0 million that Chesapeake Energy paid for Parent's common shares (now 5,430,329 shares after a 1:5 stock split) that Chesapeake Energy purchased in 2005 and now seeks to return.  In a motion to compel arbitration filed by Chesapeake on October 24, 2012, Chesapeake has asked the court to order arbitration of the claims asserted in the complaint pursuant to an arbitration clause in the Common Share Purchase Agreement.

The Gastar defendants contend that the claims fail as a matter of law and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.  Specifically, the Gastar defendants contend that all facts relating to the Navasota claim were fully known to the parties at the time of execution of the November 2005 Agreements, and the parties expressly agreed in the Purchase and Sale Agreement that Chesapeake Exploration would take title to the properties subject to Navasota's claim and would convey the properties to Navasota in the event Navasota prevailed in the litigation, precluding Chesapeake's claims for rescission of the November 2005 Agreements.  For the same reasons, the Gastar defendants also contend that Chesapeake received all of the consideration that the November 2005 Agreements called for and that there was no failure of consideration.  With regard to Chesapeake's alternative unjust enrichment claim, the Gastar defendants contend that it is barred by the two-year statute of limitations and that in any event, it fails for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the parties' agreements address the subject matter of the dispute (precluding a claim for unjust enrichment) and the fact that the Gastar defendants were not unjustly enriched by Chesapeake Exploration's payment of the share of costs attributable to an interest in the properties that was not owned by the Gastar defendants.   The Gastar defendants also contend that Chesapeake's claims are not subject to arbitration and that the claims should be resolved on the merits by the federal court in which Chesapeake filed the lawsuit.

No specific loss or range of loss can be estimated as at least reasonably possible within the amounts claimed by Chesapeake. As of September 30, 2012, no accrual has been recorded as management believes a future adverse outcome is not probable.

Navasota Resources L.P. vs. First Source Texas, Inc., First Source Gas L.P. (now Gastar Exploration Texas, LP) and Gastar Exploration Ltd. (Cause No. 0-05-451) District Court of Leon County, Texas12th Judicial District. This lawsuit, dated October 31, 2005, contended that the Company breached Navasota’s preferential right to purchase 33.33% of the Company’s interest in certain natural gas and oil leases located in Leon and Robertson Counties, which were sold to Chesapeake on November 4, 2005 (the “2005 Transaction”). The preferential right claimed that was the subject of the lawsuit is under an operating agreement dated July 7, 2000. The Company contended, among other things, that Navasota neither properly nor timely exercised any preferential right election it may have had with respect to the 2005 Transaction. In July 2006, the District Court of Leon County, Texas issued a summary judgment in favor of the Company and Chesapeake. Navasota filed a Notice of Appeal to the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco. Oral argument was heard on September 26, 2007 and the Court of Appeals issued its opinion on January 9, 2008 reversing the trial court’s rulings, rendering judgment in favor of Navasota on its claims for breach of contract and specific performance, and remanding the case for further proceedings on Navasota’s other counts, which included claims for suit to quiet title, trespass to try title, tortuous interference with contract, conversion, money had and received, breach of contract and declaratory relief. The Company and Chesapeake filed a motion for rehearing on February 6, 2008, which was denied on March18, 2008. The Company and Chesapeake filed a joint Petition for Review in the Texas Supreme Court on May 13, 2008. On August 28, 2008, the Texas Supreme Court requested briefing on the merits. On January 9, 2009, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Petition for Review. On January 26, 2009, the Company and Chesapeake jointly filed a motion for rehearing in the Texas Supreme Court on its denial of the Petition for Review. On April 24, 2009, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Petition for Review.

Pursuant to a provision in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, between the Company and Chesapeake, Chesapeake acknowledged the existence of the Navasota lawsuit and claims and further agreed that if Navasota were to prevail on its claims, that Chesapeake would convey the affected interests it purchased from the Company to Navasota upon receipt of the purchase price and/or other consideration paid by Navasota. Therefore, the Company believes that Navasota’s exercise of its rights of specific performance should impact only Chesapeake’s assigned leasehold interests. However, in December 2008, Chesapeake stated to the Company that if the Texas Supreme Court were not to reverse the decision of the Tenth Court of Appeals, Chesapeake would seek rescission of the 2005 Transaction and restitution of consideration paid, indicating that Chesapeake might assert such rescission and restitution as to the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Common Share Purchase Agreement. Chesapeake did not identify particular sums as to which it might seek restitution, but amounts paid to the

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Company in connection with the 2005 Transaction could be asserted to include the $76.0 million paid by Chesapeake for the purchase of 5.5 million common shares as part of the 2005 Transaction and/or other amounts. Chesapeake amended its answer to include cross-claims and counterclaims, including a claim for rescission.

On or about June 9, 2009, Navasota filed and served its Fourth Amended Petition, essentially re-pleading its previously-asserted claims against the Company and Chesapeake. Navasota exercised its rights of specific performance, and Chesapeake assigned leases to Navasota in July 2009. In March 2011, Chesapeake dismissed the cross-claims against the Company, including the claim for rescission, without prejudice to the subsequent refiling of those claims. On April 12, 2011, Navasota filed its Fifth Amended Petition. The Fifth Amended Petition added a new claim that the Company allegedly refused to offer Navasota interests in oil and gas leases located within an area of mutual interest, failed to assign Navasota overriding royalty interests, and failed to recognize back-in-after-payout interests. On September 2, 2011, Navasota filed its Sixth Amended Petition. The Sixth Amended Petition added a new claim that the Company allegedly further violated Navasota’s preferential right under the July 7, 2000 operating agreement to the extent the Company sold any other interests in oil and gas leases located in an area of mutual interest without offering them to Navasota. The Sixth Amended Petition also added a claim that the Company violated the Texas Natural Resource Code sections 402 and 403 by failing to pay production proceeds to Navasota.

The claims for monetary damages that Navasota asserted against the Company are as follows:

1. A claim for recovery of the gross proceeds of production for the period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties, in the approximate amount of $52.0 million.

2. A claim for alleged lost hedging profits that Navasota claims that would have been realized if it had title to the properties during the period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties, in the approximate amount of $32.0 million.

The Company believed that these claims against the Company were invalid and that Navasota was not entitled to any recovery on its claims for monetary damages. In particular, the Company believed that by virtue of the costs incurred in connection with the properties during the time period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties compared to amount reimbursed by Navasota to Chesapeake to date, Navasota was in a better position economically than it would have been in had the assignments to Navasota been made in November 2005. The Company also believed that the claim that Navasota would have earned hedging profits if it had received the assignments in November 2005 was both legally invalid and factually wrong based on the undisputed evidence.

The case was set for trial in Leon County, Texas on April 24, 2012. The Company attended court-mandated mediation on April 5, 2012, and at the mediation, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Navasota. Under the terms of the settlement, Gastar Exploration Texas, LP agreed to pay the sum of $1.3 million to Navasota, Navasota gave a full release of claims to the Company, and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP agreed to offer Navasota the opportunity to acquire one-third (1/3) of Gastar Exploration Texas, LP's current working interest in each oil and gas lease that meets both of the following criteria: (a) Gastar Exploration Texas, LP acquired the lease or an interest in the lease after October 30, 2005 in the AMI that is the subject of the Joint Operating Agreement dated July 7, 2000 covering the Hilltop Prospect to which Navasota and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP are currently parties, and (b) none of the Gastar Defendants (or any of their affiliates) and none of the Chesapeake Defendants (or any of their affiliates) have conveyed a working interest therein to Navasota as of the date of this settlement agreement. The settlement agreement provides for the payment by Navasota of its share of lease acquisition costs for any leases in which it elects to acquire an interest and for an accounting of revenues and costs for any wells drilled on leases in which Navasota elects to acquire an interest. Pursuant to the settlement, Gastar Exploration Texas, LP made the offer for acquisition of certain leasehold interests to Navasota in early May 2012, and in early June 2012, Navasota exercised its election to acquire interests in all of the leases offered pursuant to the settlement agreement. Navasota has paid Gastar Exploration Texas, LP approximately $1.5 million in leasehold reimbursement and received an assignment of approximately 3,200 net acres. Gastar Exploration Texas, LP has paid the $1.3 million of settlement funds to Navasota, and Navasota has dismissed its claims against the Company with prejudice.

The settlement of the Navasota lawsuit did not materially impact the Company's operating results, financial position or cash flows.

The Company has been expensing legal defense costs on these proceedings as they are incurred.

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. The ultimate outcome of each of these matters cannot be absolutely determined, and the liability the Company may ultimately incur with respect to any one of these matters in the event of a negative outcome may be in excess of amounts currently accrued for with respect to such matters. Net of available insurance and performance of contractual defense and indemnity obligations, where applicable, management does not believe any such matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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13. Statement of Cash Flows – Supplemental Information

The following is a summary of the supplemental cash paid and non-cash transactions for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	1,280		$	556
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures excluded from accounts payable and accrued drilling costs	724			(99		)
Capital expenditures excluded from prepaid expenses	99			—
Asset retirement obligation included in natural gas and oil properties	229			486
Asset retirement obligation assigned to operator	(2,099		)	—
Application of advances to operators	5,848			2,770

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report includes forward-looking information that is intended to be covered by the “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference in this report are forward-looking statements, including without limitation all statements regarding future plans, business objectives, strategies, expected future financial position or performance, expected future operational position or performance, budgets and projected costs, future competitive position or goals and/or projections of management for future operations. In some cases, you can identify a forward-looking statement by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or variations thereon, or other comparable terminology.

The forward-looking statements contained in this report are largely based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us, which reflect certain estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions, operating trends, and other factors. Forward-looking statements may include statements that relate to, among other things, our:

• financial position;

• business strategy and budgets;

• anticipated capital expenditures;

• drilling of wells, including the anticipated scheduling and results of such operations;

• natural gas and oil reserves;

• timing and amount of future production of natural gas, NGLs, oil and condensate;

• operating costs and other expenses;

• cash flow and anticipated liquidity;

• prospect development; and

• property acquisitions and sales.

Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. As such, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this report are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or that the events and circumstances they describe will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to:

• the supply and demand for natural gas, oil and NGLs;

• low and/or declining prices for natural gas, oil and NGLs;

• price volatility of natural gas, oil and NGLs;

• worldwide political and economic conditions and conditions in the energy market;

• our ability to raise capital to fund capital expenditures or repay or refinance debt upon maturity;

• the ability and willingness of our current or potential counterparties, third-party operators or vendors to enter into transactions with us and/or fulfill their obligation to us;

• failure of our joint interest partners to fund any or all of their portion of any capital program;

• the ability to find, acquire, market, develop and produce new natural gas and oil properties;

• uncertainties about the estimated quantities of natural gas and oil reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and timing of development expenditures of proved reserves;

• strength and financial resources of competitors;

• availability and cost of material and equipment, such as drilling rigs and transportation pipelines;

• availability and cost of processing and transportation;

• changes or advances in technology;

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• the risks associated with exploration, including cost overruns and the drilling of non-economic wells or dry wells, operating hazards inherent to the natural gas and oil business and down hole drilling and completion risks that are generally not recoverable from third parties or insurance;

• potential mechanical failure or under-performance of significant wells or pipeline mishaps;

• environmental risks;

• possible new legislative initiatives and regulatory changes potentially adversely impacting our business and industry, including, but not limited to, national healthcare, hydraulic fracturing, state and federal corporate income taxes, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes, changes in environmental regulations, environmental risks and liability under federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations;

• effects of the application of applicable laws and regulations, including changes in such regulations or the interpretation thereof;

• potential losses from pending or possible future claims, litigation or enforcement actions;

• potential defects in title to our properties or lease termination due to lack of activity or other disputes with mineral lease and royalty owners, whether regarding calculation and payment of royalties or otherwise;

• the weather, including the occurrence of any adverse weather conditions and/or natural disasters affecting our business;

• ability to find and retain skilled personnel; and

• any other factors that impact or could impact the exploration of natural gas or oil resources, including, but not limited to, the geology of a resource, the total amount and costs to develop recoverable reserves, legal title, regulatory, natural gas administration, marketing and operational factors relating to the extraction of natural gas and oil.

For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties that we face and other factors that could affect our financial performance or cause our actual results to differ materially from our projected results please see (i) Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report, (ii) Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our 2011 Form 10-K, (iii) our subsequent reports and registration statements filed from time to time with the SEC and (iv) other announcements we make from time to time.

You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements in this report, as they speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update, revise or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Item  2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

We are an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the U.S. Our principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties with an emphasis on unconventional natural gas reserves, such as shale resource plays. We are currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale play in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and central and southwestern Pennsylvania. We also hold prospective acreage in the deep Bossier gas play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and in the Mid-Continent area of the U.S.

Parent is a Canadian corporation, incorporated in Alberta in 1987 and subsisting under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), with its common shares listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “GST.” Parent is a holding company. Substantially all of the Company’s operations are conducted through, and substantially all of its assets are held by, Parent’s primary operating subsidiary, Gastar USA, and its subsidiaries. Gastar USA’s Series A Preferred Stock is listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “GST.PRA.”

Our current operational activities are conducted primarily in the U.S. As of September 30, 2012, our major assets consist of approximately 108,300 gross (75,500 net) acres in the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania, approximately 33,500 gross (17,100 net) acres in the Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and approximately 30,900 gross (12,500 net) acres in the Mid-Continent area of the U.S.

The following discussion addresses material changes in our results of operations for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and material changes in our financial condition since December 31, 2011. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial

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statements and the notes thereto included in Part I. Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report, as well as our 2011 Form 10-K, which includes important disclosures regarding our critical accounting policies as part of “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Except as otherwise noted, there are no material differences between the consolidated information for the Company presented herein and the consolidated information of Gastar USA.

Natural Gas and Oil Activities

The following provides an overview of our major natural gas and oil projects. While actively pursuing specific exploration and development activities in each of the following areas, there is no assurance that new drilling opportunities will be identified or that any new drilling opportunities will be successful if drilled.

Marcellus Shale and Other Appalachia. The Marcellus Shale is Devonian aged shale that underlies much of the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and adjacent states. The depth of the Marcellus Shale and its low permeability make the Marcellus Shale an unconventional exploration target in the Appalachian Basin. Advancements in horizontal drilling and stimulation have produced promising results in the Marcellus Shale. These developments have resulted in increased leasing and drilling activity in the area. As of September 30, 2012, our acreage position in the play was approximately 108,300 gross (75,500 net) acres. We refer to the approximately 47,100 gross (21,000 net) acres reflecting our interest in our Marcellus Shale assets in West Virginia and Pennsylvania subject to the Atinum Joint Venture described below as our Marcellus West acreage. We refer to the approximately 61,200 gross (54,400 net) acres in Preston, Tucker, Pocahontas, Randolph and Pendleton Counties, West Virginia as our Marcellus East acreage. The entirety of our acreage is believed to be in the core, over-pressured area of the Marcellus play.

On September 21, 2010, we entered into the Atinum Joint Venture pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement with Atinum. Pursuant to the agreement, at the closing of the transaction on November 1, 2010, we assigned to Atinum, for $70.0 million in total consideration, an initial 21.43% interest in all of our existing Marcellus Shale assets in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, consisting of certain undeveloped acreage and a 50% working interest in 16 producing shallow conventional wells and one non-producing vertical Marcellus Shale well (the “Atinum Joint Venture Assets”). Atinum paid us approximately $30.0 million in cash upon closing. Additionally, Atinum was obligated to fund its 50% share of drilling, completion and infrastructure costs, and paid an additional $40.0 million of drilling costs in the form of a drilling carry obligation by funding 75% of our 50% share of those same costs. Upon completion of the funding of the drilling carry, we made additional assignments in early 2012, as necessary, to Atinum as a result of which Atinum now owns a 50% interest in the Atinum Joint Venture Assets.

The Atinum Joint Venture's initial three-year development program called for the partners to drill a minimum of 12 horizontal wells in 2011 and 24 horizontal wells in each of 2012 and 2013. Due to recent natural gas price declines, Atinum and Gastar USA initially agreed to reduce the 2012 minimum wells to be drilled requirement from 24 wells to 20 wells. Atinum and Gastar USA subsequently agreed to extend the rig contract to May 2013 in the Marcellus Shale resulting in a plan to drill and complete approximately 26 gross (12.7 net) wells during 2012. During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, we drilled and cased 16 gross (7.7 net) operated wells, completed fracture stimulation operations on 17 gross (8.0 net) operated wells and were in the process of fracture stimulating five gross (2.2 net) operated wells in Marshall County, West Virginia. We were also in various stages of drilling on 12 gross (6.0 net) operated wells in Marshall County, West Virginia. All of our 2012 Marcellus Shale well operations were under the Atinum Joint Venture. Effective June 30, 2011, Atinum has the right to participate in any future leasehold acquisitions made by us within Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, excluding the counties of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph and Tucker, West Virginia, on terms identical to those governing the existing Atinum Joint Venture. We will act as operator and are obligated to offer any future lease acquisitions to Atinum on a 50/50 basis. Atinum will pay us on an annual basis an amount equal to 10% of lease bonuses and third party leasing costs up to $20.0 million and 5% of such costs on activities above $20.0 million.

In December 2010, we completed a Marcellus Shale leasehold acquisition for the Marcellus East acreage for an aggregate purchase price of $28.9 million. The acquisition consisted of undeveloped leasehold in the Marcellus Shale concentrated in Preston, Tucker, Pocahontas, Randolph and Pendleton Counties, West Virginia, including a gathering system comprised of 41 miles of four and six inch steel pipeline, a salt water disposal well, and five conventional producing wells. The Marcellus East acreage was outside the initial AMI with Atinum, and Atinum elected not to acquire a 50% interest as provided under the terms of the Atinum Joint Venture. We believe their decision was due to the timing of the transaction and limited prior operational results within the initial Atinum Joint Venture AMI. We have completed the drilling of the Hickory Ridge 2H horizontal Marcellus well in Marcellus East in Preston County, West Virginia. We completed the 2,500 foot lateral with a ten-stage fracture stimulation in August 2011 and to date, the well has recovered approximately 59% of the fluids used in its completion. Nearby vertical wells experienced low gas rates prior to recovering at least 75% of completion fluids. Due to low natural gas prices and in an effort to reduce operating costs, we are installing a pump jack to assist with accelerating the recovery of the completion fluids from the well. Due to the current natural gas price environment, we are currently not planning to drill any additional wells on the Marcellus East acreage during 2012.

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As of September 30, 2012, our operated wells capable of production in Marshall County, West Virginia were comprised of the following:

Pad	Gross Well Count	Net Well Count	Working Interest	Net Revenue Interest	Average Lateral Length (in feet) (1)	Status
Corley	4.0	1.6	40.8%	35.4%	4,900	Producing
Simms	3.0	1.5	50.0%	43.2%	5,000	Producing
Hall	3.0	1.2	40.0%	34.7%	4,400	Producing
Hendrickson	5.0	2.0	40.0%	34.7%	4,700	Producing
Accettolo	3.0	1.5	50.0%	40.2%	4,600	Producing
Burch Ridge	5.0	2.5	50.0%	41.5%	5,800	Producing
Wayne	4.0	2.0	50.0%	40.6%	5,700	Producing
Wengerd	2.0	0.9	44.5%	37.7%	5,200	Shut-in (2)
	29.0	13.2

 _________________________________

(1) Average well lateral length approximates the actual average well lateral length.

(2) The Wengerd 1H and 7H wells were shut-in to accommodate the current drilling of five additional Wengerd horizontal wells on the pad, discussed in further detail below. We anticipate that these wells will be returned to production during December 2012 when the five additional Wengerd wells are turned to production.

As of September 30, 2012, we had drilling operations at various stages on the following wells in Marshall County, West Virginia:

Pad	Gross Well Count	Net Well Count	Working Interest	Estimated Net Revenue Interest	Average Lateral Length (in feet) (1)	Status	Estimated Production Date
Wengerd	5.0	2.2	44.5%	37.7%	5,000	Awaiting fracture stimulation/completion	Early December 2012
Lily	4.0	2.0	50.0%	40.6%	5,100	One drilled to total depth; three drilled to kick off point	Late December 2012
Shields	9.0	4.5	50.0%	42.0%	2,800	Eight drilled to kick off point; one drilled to intermediate casing point	First and Third Quarters 2013
	18.0	8.7

 _________________________________

(1) Average well lateral length approximates the actual average well lateral length for wells that have been completed and the estimated average well lateral length for wells that have not been completed.

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Currently, we have the following drilling operations in Marshall County, West Virginia:

Pad	Gross Well Count	Net Well Count	Working Interest	Estimated Net Revenue Interest	Average Lateral Length (in feet) (1)	Status	Estimated Production Date
Wengerd	5.0	2.2	44.5%	37.7%	5,000	Fracture stimulation completed; completion operations in progress	Early December 2012
Lily	4.0	2.0	50.0%	40.6%	5,100	Fracture stimulation/completion operations to begin mid-November 2012	Late December 2012
Addison	5.0	2.5	50.0%	41.7%	5,000	Currently drilling top-holes	Second Quarter 2013
Shields	10.0	5.0	50.0%	42.0%	2,800	Eight drilled to kick off point; one drilled to intermediate casing point	First and Third Quarters 2013
	24.0	11.7

 _________________________________

(1) Average well lateral length approximates the actual average well lateral length for wells that have been completed and the estimated average well lateral length for wells that have not been completed.

As of September 30, 2012, we had participated on a non-operated basis in the drilling of seven horizontal Marcellus Shale wells in Butler County, Pennsylvania and an additional four non-operated horizontal Marcellus Shale wells in Marshall County, West Virginia. Three of the seven Butler County wells were turned to production on December 1, 2011 with the remaining four wells completed and turned to sales in March 2012. Our average working interest in the Butler County non-operated wells is 19.2% (net revenue interest 15.9%) and the average lateral length of the wells is 3,900 feet. Of the four Marshall County non-operated wells, two of the wells were on production prior to December 31, 2011 and the remaining wells were placed on production by mid-April 2012. Our current average working interest in the Marshall County non-operated wells is 21.4% (net revenue interest 18.6%) and the average well lateral length is approximately 4,200 feet. Currently, we do not plan to participate in any additional non-operated wells for the remainder of 2012 and 2013.

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, net production from the Marcellus Shale averaged approximately 23.3 MMcfe/d and 19.4 MMcfe/d, respectively, compared to 2.9 MMcfe/d and 1.4 MMcfe/d for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, respectively. During the last several quarters, our operated production and sales in West Virginia have been curtailed by issues with condensate handling, dehydration limitations, high line pressures and excessive unscheduled system down-time on a third-party-operated gathering system. The gathering system operator has been gradually resolving these issues and certain issues were resolved by late May 2012 by increasing dehydration capacity to 70 MMcf/d from 40 MMcf/d and adding compression to reduce line pressure to approximately 550 psi at the Corley CRP. An additional CRP is to be constructed at the Burch Ridge pad and will have 75 MMcf/d dehydration capacity and compression to ensure line pressures are maintained at approximately 550 psi. The third-party gathering system was down approximately 18.5% of the days in the third quarter of 2012 due to a fire at the facility in August 2012 and downstream NGLs processing plant curtailment in September 2012. The Burch Ridge CRP is currently scheduled to be operational by early December 2012 which should further reduce line pressure and limitations to dehydration capacity. If the Burch Ridge CRP is delayed, we may have to restrict our production in the fourth quarter of 2012 as the Wengerd pad is placed on production.

Hilltop Area, East Texas. At September 30, 2012, we held leases covering approximately 33,500 gross (17,100 net) acres in the Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas in Leon and Robertson Counties. Wells in this area target multiple potentially productive natural gas formations and are typically characterized by high initial production and attractive long-lived per well reserves. Due to current low natural gas prices, we have suspended all Bossier drilling activities in the Hilltop area for 2012. We are monitoring offset horizontal drilling activity in the Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations by Encana Corporation, EOG Resources, Inc. and other companies. Should the drilling results of the offset operators warrant such, we may consider drilling an Eagle Ford or Woodbine test well in 2013.

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, net production from the Hilltop area averaged approximately 14.6 MMcfe/d and 14.1 MMcfe/d, respectively, compared to 16.6 MMcfe/d and 17.9 MMcfe/d for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, respectively. The decrease in production is the result of natural field decline and the suspension of our East Texas drilling plans as a result of low natural gas prices. However, third quarter 2012 net production benefited by

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approximately 1.4 MMcfe/d primarily due to an increase in our Belin #1 net revenue interest based on an updated division order title opinion.

Mid-Continent Horizontal Oil Play. At September 30, 2012, we held leases covering approximately 30,900 gross (12,500 net) acres in the previously announced non-operated Mid-Continent horizontal oil play. Our leasing activities are continuing in the initial AMI prospect area and have been expanded to include two additional adjacent prospect areas with a current goal of leasing at least 50,000 combined gross acres within the three prospect areas. For the first 12,500 gross acres acquired in the initial AMI prospect, we paid 62.5% of lease acquisition costs for a 50% leasehold interest and 50% of lease acquisition costs on additional acres in excess of 12,500 gross acres acquired for a 50% working interest. We will pay 54.25% of the lease acquisition costs in the two new prospect areas for a 50% working interest. In each prospect area, we pay 62.5% of the first four wells' gross drilling and completion costs and 56.25 % of the next four wells' gross drilling and completion costs to earn a 50% working interest. For all additional wells beyond the first eight in a prospect area, we are responsible for paying only the drilling and completion costs associated with our 50% working interest (approximate net revenue interest 39.0%). We are responsible for all leasing and permitting activities.

In late July 2012, drilling operations commenced on the first of three wells to be drilled during 2012 on the initial prospect area. The first well has a horizontal lateral of approximately 4,200 feet and fracture stimulation operations were completed in late September 2012. Costs to drill and complete the first well are $4.4 million gross ($2.8 million net). Well flow back operations commenced on October 5, 2012 and the well continues to unload completion fluids with approximately 8% of frac fluid flowed back to date. Oil and natural gas production rates continue to increase. The operator plans to drill out the plugs between completion stages by mid-November 2012. The current oil and natural gas production is being sent to sales. Drilling operations on the second well are anticipated to commence by late November 2012 and the third well late in the fourth quarter 2012 on the initial prospect area. The two wells are scheduled to be on production in January and February 2013, respectively.

Coalbed Methane – Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana. On May 3, 2012, we assigned our working interest in the Powder River Basin to the operator effective January 1, 2012.

Gastar USA Series A Preferred Stock

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, Gastar USA sold 2,582,407 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $49.2 million, resulting in 3,946,950 total shares issued for net proceeds of $76.6 million at September 30, 2012. From October 1, 2012 to November 5, 2012, we sold an additional 4,304 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $84,000. We plan to continue issuing Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement in the future depending on market conditions and our capital expenditures program. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” of this report.

Results of Operations

The following is a comparative discussion of the results of operations for the periods indicated. It should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements found elsewhere in this report.

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The following table provides information about production volumes, average prices of natural gas and oil and operating expenses for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Production:
Natural gas (MMcf)	2,783		1,837		7,584		5,437
Oil (MBbl)	42		10		106		31
NGLs (MBbl)	77		5		186		5
Total production (MMcfe)	3,493		1,921		9,339		5,649
Total (Mmcfe/d)	38.0		20.9		34.1		20.7
Average sales price per unit:
Natural gas per Mcf, excluding impact of realized hedging activities	$	2.27	$	3.37	$	1.99	$	3.41
Natural gas per Mcf, including impact of realized hedging activities	3.20		4.69		2.97		4.63
Oil per Bbl, excluding impact of realized hedging activities	76.54		77.64		68.93		87.91
Oil per Bbl, including impact of realized hedging activities	83.05		77.64		72.93		87.91
NGLs per Bbl, excluding impact of realized hedging activities	25.26		52.93		29.02		52.93
NGLs per Bbl, including impact of realized hedging activities	32.40		52.93		34.31		52.93
Average sales price per Mcfe, excluding impact of realized hedging activities	$	3.28	$	3.73	$	2.98	$	3.80
Average sales price per Mcfe, including impact of realized hedging activities	4.25		4.99		3.92		4.98
Selected operating expenses (in thousands):
Production taxes	$	560	$	157	$	1,494	$	384
Lease operating expenses	780		2,363		4,754		5,945
Transportation, treating and gathering	1,305		1,128		3,715		3,354
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	7,135		3,694		19,744		10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054		—		150,787		—
General and administrative expense	2,951		3,100		9,263		8,576
Selected operating expenses per Mcfe:
Production taxes	$	0.16	$	0.08	$	0.16	$	0.07
Lease operating expenses	0.22		1.23		0.51		1.05
Transportation, treating and gathering	0.37		0.59		0.40		0.59
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	2.04		1.92		2.11		1.91
General and administrative expense	0.84		1.61		0.99		1.52

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

Revenues. Total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues were $14.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, up from $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in revenues was the result of an 82%increase in production offset by a 15%decrease in weighted average realized prices. Average daily production on an equivalent basis was 38.0 MMcfe/d for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 20.9 MMcfe/d for the same period in 2011. Oil and NGLs production represented approximately 20% of total production for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 19% and 16% of total production for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively, and

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4% of total production for the prior year three month period, primarily as a result of our increased focus on drilling liquids-rich acreage in 2012.

Liquids revenues (oil, condensate and NGLs) represented approximately 40% of our total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues for the three month period ended September 30, 2012 compared to 10% for the three month period ended September 30, 2011. Due to continued lower natural gas prices, we are focusing the majority of our 2012 drilling activity on the liquids-rich portions of the Marcellus Shale. If current trends of natural gas prices relative to oil and NGLs prices continue, and assuming that we successfully and timely complete our 2012 drilling activity, we expect our liquids revenues to continue to increase as a percentage of total revenues before hedging gains or losses for the remainder of 2012. NGLs prices continued to decline during the third quarter of 2012, largely attributable to a record-warm winter, a slowing global economy and growing NGLs supplies. We expect NGLs prices to remain depressed in the near-term, with some anticipated recovery by the end of the year.

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative contracts covering approximately 89% of our natural gas production, which resulted in realized gains of $2.6 million and an increase in total price realized from $2.27 per Mcf to $3.20 per Mcf. The realized hedge impact includes a benefit of $222,000 for amortization of prepaid call sale premiums. Excluding the non-cash amortization, the realized effect of hedging was an increase in revenues of $2.4 million, which was comprised of $3.5 million of NYMEX hedge gains offset by $49,000 of regional basis losses and payment of deferred put premiums of $1.1 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the realized effect of hedging on natural gas sales was an increase of $2.4 million in natural gas revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $3.37 per Mcf to $4.69 per Mcf. The 2011 realized hedge impact included a benefit of $432,000 of non-cash amortization of prepaid call sale and put purchase premiums and payment of deferred put premiums of $861,000.

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative contracts covering approximately 66% of our oil production. The realized effect of hedging on oil sales was an increase of $271,000 in oil revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $76.54 per Bbl to $83.05 per Bbl. We have designated 50% of our current crude hedges as price protection for our NGLs production.

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative contracts covering approximately 60% of our NGLs production. The realized effect of hedging on NGLs sales was an increase of $547,000 in NGLs revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $25.26 per Bbl to $32.40 per Bbl.

Unrealized hedge loss was $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to an unrealized hedge gain of $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in unrealized hedge loss is the result of higher future NYMEX natural gas prices and future oil and NGLs prices coupled with the addition of new future hedges.

Production taxes. We reported production taxes of $560,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $157,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in production taxes primarily resulted from higher revenues in West Virginia due to increased natural gas, oil and NGLs production.

Lease operating expenses. We reported lease operating expenses of $780,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Our total LOE was $0.22 per Mcfe for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to $1.23 per Mcfe for the same period in 2011. The decrease in our lease operating expenses (“LOE”) was primarily due to a $1.5 million decrease in controllable LOE. The decrease in controllable LOE is due to the assignment of our Powder River Basin properties to the operator on May 3, 2012, which resulted in a decrease of $423,000 for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011; a $625,000 decrease in East Texas workover costs for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011 due to reduced activity in the area and a $608,000 decrease in well operating costs in East Texas for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 which includes a $394,000 decrease resulting from property assignments partially offset by a $184,000 increase in well operating costs in the Marcellus Shale for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011.

Transportation, treating and gathering. We reported transportation expenses of $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, of which $944,000 and $1.0 million, respectively, related to our Hilltop operations in East Texas. The current quarter includes $509,000 of minimum volume requirement charges under our Hilltop gas gathering agreement compared to $413,000 of such charges in the same quarter of 2011. Such charges resulted from actual production volumes being less than minimum contractual volume requirements.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization. We reported depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expense of $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012up from $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in DD&A expense was the result of a 6% increase in the DD&A rate per Mcfe and an 82% increase in production. The DD&A rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was $2.04 per Mcfe compared to $1.92 per Mcfe

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for the same period in 2011. The increase in the rate is primarily due to higher proved costs associated with the September 30, 2012 and the December 31, 2011 allocations of undeveloped East Texas leasehold costs from unproved to proved properties based on 2011 drilling results and suspended drilling activity. The third quarter 2012 allocation of unproved East Texas leasehold costs increased the current quarter DD&A rate by approximately $0.12 per Mcfe.

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties. We reported an impairment of natural gas and oil properties of $78.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The impairment is primarily the result of a 31% decline in the 12-month average natural gas price used in the calculation of the full cost ceiling test at September 30, 2012 compared to the 12-month average natural gas price at December 31, 2011. We did not recognize an impairment for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Given the current price environment, we expect that further declines in the 12-month average natural gas, oil and NGLs prices will likely result in the recognition of future ceiling impairments in 2012.

General and administrative expense. We reported general and administrative expenses of $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, down from $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is included in general and administrative expense, decreased $31,000 to $729,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, general and administrative expense decreased $118,000 to $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. This decrease is primarily due to decreased professional fees offset by an increase in personnel costs.

Dividends on Preferred Stock. We reported dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $388,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The Series A Preferred Stock carries a cumulative dividend rate of 8.625% per annum. The increase in dividends on Series A Preferred Stock is due to an increase in the number of preferred shares outstanding.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

Revenues. Total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues were $36.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, up from $28.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in revenues was the result of a 65%increase in production offset by a 21%decrease in weighted average realized prices. Average daily production on an equivalent basis was 34.1 MMcfe/d for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 20.7 MMcfe/d for the same period in 2011. Oil and NGLs daily production represented approximately 19% of total production for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 4% of daily production for the prior year nine month period, primarily as a result of our increased focus on drilling liquids-rich acreage in 2012 due to lower natural gas prices.

Liquids revenues represented approximately 39% of our total natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 compared to 10% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2011.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative hedge contracts covering approximately 94% of our natural gas production, which resulted in realized gains of $7.4 million and an increase in total price realized from $1.99 per Mcf to $2.97 per Mcf. The realized hedge impact includes a benefit of $662,000 for amortization of prepaid call sale premiums. Excluding the non-cash amortization, the realized effect of hedging was an increase in revenues of $6.8 million, which was comprised of $10.0 million of NYMEX hedge gains offset by $53,000 of regional basis losses and payment of deferred put premiums of $3.2 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the realized effect of hedging on natural gas sales was an increase of $6.7 million in natural gas revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $3.41 per Mcf to $4.63 per Mcf. The 2011 realized hedge impact included a benefit of $1.3 million of non-cash amortization of prepaid call sale and put purchase premiums and payment of deferred put premiums of $2.2 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative hedge contracts covering approximately 60% of our oil production. The realized effect of hedging on oil sales was an increase of $425,000 in oil revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $68.93 per Bbl to $72.93 per Bbl. We have designated 50% of our current crude hedges as price protection for our NGLs production.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we had commodity derivative hedge contracts covering approximately 58% of our NGLs production. The realized effect of hedging on NGLs sales was an increase of $987,000 in NGLs revenues resulting in an increase in total price realized from $29.02 per Bbl to $34.31 per Bbl.

Unrealized hedge loss was $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to an unrealized hedge gain of $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in unrealized hedge loss is the result of higher future NYMEX gas prices and future oil and NGLs prices coupled with the addition of new future hedges.

Production taxes. We reported production taxes of $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $384,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in production taxes primarily resulted from higher revenues in West Virginia due to increased natural gas, oil and NGLs production.

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Lease operating expenses. We reported LOE of $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Our LOE was $0.51 per Mcfe for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $1.05 per Mcfe for the same period in 2011. The decrease in our LOE expenses was primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in controllable LOE resulting from a decrease in East Texas well operating and workover costs of $928,000 and lower Powder River Basin LOE of $1.1 million as a result of the assignment of our interest in the properties to the operator on May 3, 2012 offset by a $939,000 increase in Marcellus Shale LOE.

Transportation, treating and gathering. We reported transportation expenses of $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, of which $2.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively, related to our Hilltop operations in East Texas. The current year to date period includes $1.5 million of minimum volume requirement charges under our Hilltop gas gathering agreement compared to $1.1 million of such charges in the same period of 2011. Such charges resulted from actual production volumes being less than minimum contractual volume requirements.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization. We reported DD&A expense of $19.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012up from $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in DD&A expense was the result of a 10%increase in the DD&A rate per Mcfe and a 65% increase in production. The DD&A rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $2.11 per Mcfe compared to $1.91 per Mcfe for the same period in 2011. The increase in the rate is primarily due to higher proved costs associated with the 2011 and September 30, 2012 allocation of undeveloped East Texas leasehold costs from unproved to proved properties based on 2011 drilling results and suspended drilling activity.

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties. We reported an impairment of natural gas and oil properties of $150.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The impairment is primarily the result of a 31% decline in the 12-month average natural gas price used in the calculation of the full cost ceiling test at September 30, 2012 compared to the 12-month average natural gas price at December 31, 2011. We did not recognize an impairment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Given the current price environment, we expect that further declines in the 12-month average natural gas, oil and NGLs prices will likely result in the recognition of future ceiling impairments in 2012.

General and administrative expense. We reported general and administrative expenses of $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, up from $8.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is included in general and administrative expense, increased $572,000 to $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in stock-based compensation expense is primarily due to the additional expense recognized during the period related to grants made in early 2012 that were in excess of grants made in the prior year. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, general and administrative expense increased $115,000 to $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011. This increase is primarily due to higher personnel costs.

Litigation settlement expense. We reported litigation settlement expense of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 resulting from our settlement with Navasota on April 5, 2012. For additional information regarding the settlement of this matter, see Note 12, “Commitments and Contingencies” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report.

Dividends on Preferred Stock. We reported dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock of $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $419,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The Series A Preferred Stock carries a cumulative dividend rate of 8.625% per annum. The increase in dividends on Series A Preferred Stock is due to an increase in the number of preferred shares outstanding.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview. Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are internally generated cash flows from operating activities or asset sales, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility, issuances of Gastar USA preferred equity and access to capital markets, to the extent available. We continually evaluate our capital needs and compare them to our capital resources and ability to raise funds in the financial markets. We may adjust capital expenditures in response to additional future declines in natural gas, oil and NGLs prices, drilling results and cash flow.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we reported cash flows provided by operating activities of $21.1 million, net cash used in investing activities, primarily for the development and purchase of natural gas and oil properties, of $106.2 million and net cash provided by financing activities of $83.6 million, consisting of $49.2 million of proceeds from issuances of 2,582,407 shares of Gastar USA’s Series A Preferred Stock and $40.0 million of net borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, less $4.9 million of dividends paid on the preferred stock . As a result of these activities, our cash and cash equivalents balance decreased by $1.5 million, resulting in a cash and cash equivalents balance of $9.1 million at September 30, 2012.

34

At September 30, 2012, we had a net working capital deficit of approximately $22.8 million, including $18.4 million of advances from non-operators. At September 30, 2012, availability under our Revolving Credit Facility was $40.0 million.

Future capital and other expenditure requirements. Due to continued lower natural gas prices, we are focusing the majority of our 2012 drilling activity on the liquids-rich portions of the Marcellus Shale. NGLs prices continued to decline during the third quarter of 2012, largely attributable to a record-warm winter, a slowing global economy and growing NGLs supplies. We expect NGLs prices to remain depressed in the near-term, with some anticipated recovery by the end of the year. We continue to monitor natural gas, NGLs and oil prices and modify our capital expenditures accordingly. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2012, excluding acquisitions, are projected to be approximately $46.1 million. In the Marcellus Shale, we expect to spend $37.6 million for drilling, completion, infrastructure, lease acquisition and seismic costs. We have budgeted $700,000 for East Texas for lease extensions and recompletions. In addition, we have allocated $6.7 million for the new Mid-Continent oil-focused venture and $1.1 million for capitalized interest and other costs. We plan on funding this capital activity through existing cash balances, internally generated cash flow from operating activities, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and possible future ATM issuances of the remaining 48,746 shares of Gastar USA Series A Preferred Stock. Our capital expenditures for the remainder of 2012 and 2013 and the scope of our drilling activities may change as a result of several factors, including, but not limited to, changes in natural gas, oil and NGLs prices, costs of drilling and completion and leasehold acquisitions, drilling results, the market for future ATM issuances of Gastar USA Series A Preferred Stock and changes in the borrowing base under the Revolving Credit Facility. Our preliminary estimate of total 2013 capital expenditures is $75.0 million to $95.0 million. Our 2013 capital program will be limited to internally generated cash flows from operating activities or potential asset sales and availability under the Revolving Credit Facility or possible similar debt structures.

Operating Cash Flow and Commodity Hedging Activities. Our operating cash flow is sensitive to many variables, the most significant of which is the volatility of prices for natural gas, oil and NGLs. Prices for these commodities are determined primarily by prevailing market conditions including national and worldwide economic activity, weather, infrastructure capacity to reach markets, supply levels and other variable factors. These factors are beyond our control and are difficult to predict.

To mitigate some of the potential negative impact on cash flows caused by changes in natural gas, oil and NGLs prices, we have entered into financial commodity costless collars, index swaps, basis and fixed price swaps and put and call options to hedge natural gas, oil and NGLs price risk. In addition to NYMEX swaps and collars and fixed price swaps, we also have entered into basis only swaps. With a basis only swap, we have hedged the difference between the NYMEX price and the price received for our natural gas production at the specific delivery location. For the remainder of 2012, we have costless three way collar hedges for approximately 7,400 MMBtu/d of our natural gas production with a weighted average floor of $5.73, short put of $4.00 and a ceiling of $6.88. In addition, we have put spread hedges for approximately 16,600 MMBtu/d of our natural gas production with a weighted average floor of $6.00 and a short put of $4.00 and call spreads for 2,000 MMBtu/d of our natural gas production with a weighted average call of $4.00 and a ceiling of $4.50. For the remainder of 2012, we have fixed price swaps for 600 Bbls/d of crude oil at $102.01 per Bbl. The crude oil fixed price swaps provide price protection for our future oil sales and butane, isobutene and pentanes components of our NGLs production as these heavy components of NGLs have pricing that correlates closely with oil pricing. We have designated 50% of our current crude hedges as price protection for our NGLs production. For the remainder of 2012, we have fixed price swaps for 250 Bbls/d of NGLs at $49.59 per Bbl providing price protection for our future propane component of our NGLs production. See Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 6 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity” of this report.

At September 30, 2012, the estimated fair value of all of our commodity derivative instruments was a net asset of $9.1 million, comprised of current and non-current assets and liabilities. In conjunction with certain commodity derivative hedging activity, we deferred the payment of certain put premiums for the production month period July 2010 through December 2012. At September 30, 2012, we had a current commodity derivative premium payable of $1.4 million. The put premium liabilities become payable monthly as the hedge production month becomes the prompt production month.

By removing the price volatility from a portion of our natural gas, oil and NGLs for 2012, 2013 and 2014, we have mitigated, but not eliminated, the potential effects of changing prices on our operating cash flows for those periods. While mitigating negative effects of falling commodity prices, certain derivative contracts also limit the benefits we could receive from increases in commodity prices.

As of September 30, 2012, all of our economic derivative hedge positions were with a multinational energy company or large financial institutions, which are not known to us to be in default on their derivative positions. Credit support for our open derivatives at September 30, 2012 is provided under the Revolving Credit Facility through inter-creditor agreements or open credit accounts of up to $5.0 million. We are exposed to credit risk to the extent of non-performance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts discussed above; however, we do not anticipate non-performance by such counterparties.

Revolving Credit Facility. At September 30, 2012, we had $70.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility compared to our December 31, 2011 outstanding balance of $30.0 million. The increase in our long-term debt balance is associated with expenditures for the development of natural gas and oil properties during the nine months ended September 30,

35

2012 of $100.6 million. Effective March 5, 2012, the borrowing base under the Revolving Credit Facility was increased from $50.0 million to $100.0 million, and effective September 30, 2012, the borrowing base under the Revolving Credit Facility was increased from $100.0 million to $110.0 million. Borrowing base redeterminations are scheduled semi-annually with the next redetermination scheduled for May 2013. However, we and the lenders may request one additional unscheduled redetermination annually.

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at the prime rate or LIBO rate plus an applicable margin. Pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility, the applicable interest rate margin varies from 1.0% to 2.0% in the case of borrowings based on the prime rate and from 2.5% to 3.5% in the case of borrowings based on the LIBO rate, depending on the utilization percentage in relation to the borrowing base. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we are subject to certain financial covenants, including interest coverage ratio, a total net indebtedness to EBITDA ratio and current ratio requirement. At November 5, 2012, our availability under our Revolving Credit Facility was $40.0 million.

At September 30, 2012, Gastar USA was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility. For a more detailed description of the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility, see Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 4 – Long-Term Debt” of this report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2012, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements. We have no plans to enter into any off- balance sheet arrangements in the foreseeable future.

Commitments and Contingencies

As is common within the industry, we have entered into various commitments and operating agreements related to the exploration and development of and production from proved natural gas properties. It is management’s belief that such commitments will be met without a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We are party to various litigation matters and administrative claims arising out of the normal course of business. Although the ultimate outcome of each of these matters cannot be absolutely determined and the liability the Company may ultimately incur with respect to any one of these matters in the event of a negative outcome may be in excess of amounts currently accrued with respect to such matters, management does not believe any such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. A discussion of current legal proceedings is set forth in Part. I Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies” of this report.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, contingent assets and liabilities and the related disclosures in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

• It requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and

• Changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Significant accounting policies that we employ and information about the nature of our most critical accounting estimates, our assumptions or approach used and the effects of hypothetical changes in the material assumptions used to develop each estimate are presented in Part I, Item I. “Financial Statements, Note 2 -Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this report and in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Developments

For a discussion of recent accounting developments, see Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Policies” of this report.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity Price Risk

Our major commodity price risk exposure is to the prices received for our natural gas, oil and NGLs production. Our results of operations and operating cash flows are affected by changes in market prices. Realized commodity prices received for our production are the spot prices applicable to natural gas, oil and NGLs in the region produced. Prices received for natural gas, oil and NGLs are volatile and unpredictable and are beyond our control. To mitigate a portion of the exposure to adverse

36

market changes, we have entered into various derivative instruments. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, a 10% change in the prices received for natural gas, oil and NGLs production would have had an approximate $1.1 million and $2.8 million impact, respectively, on our revenues prior to hedge transactions to mitigate our commodity pricing risk. See Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 6 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity” of this report for additional information regarding our hedging activities.

Interest Rate Risk

At September 30, 2012, we had $70.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. Based on the amount outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2012, a one percentage point change in the interest rate would have had an $175,000 impact on our interest expense, all of which would have been capitalized. We currently do not use interest rate derivatives to mitigate our exposure to the volatility in interest rates, including under the Revolving Credit Facility, as this risk is minimal.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

During 2009, we sold all of our Australian assets. As a result, all of our current and future revenues and capital expenditures and substantially all of our expenses are in U.S. dollars, thus limiting our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management’s Evaluation on the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent and the President and Treasurer of Gastar USA, Parent and Gastar USA each conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as of September 30, 2012. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent and the President and Treasurer of Gastar USA concluded that, as of September 30, 2012, each company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent and the President and Treasurer of Gastar USA, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

37

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

A discussion of current legal proceedings is set forth in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies” of this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Information about material risks related to our business, financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 does not materially differ from that set out under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 (“1Q 2012 Form 10-Q”) and June 30, 2012 ("2Q 2012 Form 10-Q"), respectively. You should carefully consider the risk factors and other information discussed in our 2011 Form 10-K, 1Q 2012 Form 10-Q and 2Q 2012 Form 10-Q, as well as the information provided in this report. These risks are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following is a list of exhibits filed or furnished (as indicated) as part of this report. Where so indicated by a note, exhibits which were previously filed are incorporated herein by reference.

38

Exhibit Number	Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed October 13, 2005, Registration No. 333-127498).
3.2	Amended Bylaws of Gastar Exploration Ltd. dated as of June 3, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 2010. File No. 001-32714).
3.3	Articles of Amendment and Share Structure attached to and forming part of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd, dated as of June 30, 2009. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 1, 2009. File No. 001-32714).
3.4	Articles of Amendment attached to and forming part of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd, dated as of July 23, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2009. File No. 001-32714).
3.5	Certificate of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (incorporated by refernce to Exhibit 3.3 to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated May 27, 2011. Registration No. 333-174552).
3.6	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (incorporated by refernce to Exhibit 3.3 to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated May 27, 2011. Registration No. 333-174552).
3.7	Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences of 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Form 8A filed on June 20, 2011).
10.1†	Amended and Restated Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement dated August 27, 2012, by and among BP Energy Company, Shell Energy North America (US), L.P., Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., Gastar Exploration Ltd., each of the Guarantors party thereto and Amegy Bank National Association.
31.1†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Executive Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Financial Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.3†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by President of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.4†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Treasurer of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Executive Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Financial Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.3††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by President of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.4††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Treasurer of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS††	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

____________________________________

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

† Filed herewith.

†† Furnished herewith.

39

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.
Date:	November 7, 2012	By:	/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER
			J. Russell Porter
			President and Chief Executive Officer
			(Duly authorized officer and principal executive officer)

Date:	November 7, 2012	By:	/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH
			Michael A. Gerlich
			Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
			(Duly authorized officer and principal financial and accounting officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.
Date:	November 7, 2012	By:	/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER
			J. Russell Porter
			President
			(Duly authorized officer and principal executive officer)

Date:	November 7, 2012	By:	/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH
			Michael A. Gerlich
			Secretary and Treasurer
			(Duly authorized officer and principal financial and accounting officer)

40

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed October 13, 2005, Registration No. 333-127498).
3.2	Amended Bylaws of Gastar Exploration Ltd. dated as of June 3, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 2010. File No. 001-32714).
3.3	Articles of Amendment and Share Structure attached to and forming part of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd, dated as of June 30, 2009. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 1, 2009. File No. 001-32714).
3.4	Articles of Amendment attached to and forming part of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration Ltd, dated as of July 23, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2009. File No. 001-32714).
3.5	Certificate of Incorporation of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (incorporated by refernce to Exhibit 3.3 to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated May 27, 2011. Registration No. 333-174552).
3.6	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (incorporated by refernce to Exhibit 3.3 to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated May 27, 2011. Registration No. 333-174552).
3.7	Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences of 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.'s Form 8A filed on June 20, 2011).
10.1†	Amended and Restated Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement dated August 27, 2012, by and among BP Energy Company, Shell Energy North America (US), L.P., Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., Gastar Exploration Ltd., each of the Guarantors party thereto and Amegy Bank National Association.
31.1†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Executive Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Financial Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.3†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by President of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.4†	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Treasurer of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Executive Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Chief Financial Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.3††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by President of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.4††	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Treasurer of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS††	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE††	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

___________________________________

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

41

† Filed herewith.

†† Furnished herewith.

42

EX-10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED COLLATERAL AGENCY
AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED COLLATERAL AGENCY AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of August 27, 2012 by and among BP ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (BP), SHELL ENERGY NORTH AMERICA (US), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Shell), any other Person (as defined below) that hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement as an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” (as defined below) pursuant to Section 2(o) hereof, GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC., a Delaware corporation (Borrower), GASTAR EXPLORATION, LTD., an Alberta, Canada corporation (Parent), GASTAR EXPLORATION NEW SOUTH WALES, INC., a Michigan corporation (Gastar New South Wales), GASTAR EXPLORATION VICTORIA, INC., a Michigan corporation (Gastar Victoria), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, INC., a Michigan corporation (Gastar Texas Inc.), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Gastar Texas LP), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Gastar Texas LLC, and Parent, Gastar New South Wales, Gastar Victoria, Gastar Texas Inc., Gastar Texas LP and Gastar Texas LLC, together with any other Person (as defined below) that becomes a party to any Security Instrument (as defined below) as a grantor or guarantor thereunder, collectively, Guarantors), and AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (Amegy), as the administrative agent for the lenders, as issuing bank and as collateral agent for the lenders and, under certain circumstances, certain other parties under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated effective October 28, 2009, as amended, referred to hereinafter (in such capacities, Agent) and as Collateral Agent (defined below) hereunder.

RECITALS:

A.Borrower, Guarantors, Agent and the lenders thereunder (Lenders) are parties to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated effective October 28, 2009 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement).

B.Borrowerand BP Corporation North America Inc. (BPCNA) entered into that certain ISDA Master Agreement dated as of October 29, 2007, including, but not limited to, the Schedules and Annexes thereto, and have entered into and/or will enter into one or more transaction confirmations thereunder (such ISDA Master Agreement and transaction confirmations, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, collectively, the BPISDA, whether one or more), the rights of BPCNA under which have been assigned to BP, and the obligations of BPCNA under which have been assumed by BP, pursuant to that certain Assignment, Assumption, Consent and Release Agreement dated of even date herewith by and among BPCNA, BP and Borrower.

C.Borrowerand Shell have entered into that certain ISDA Master Agreement dated as of August 27, 2012, including, but not limited to, the Schedules and Annexes thereto, and have entered into and/or will enter into one or more transaction confirmations thereunder (such ISDA Master Agreement and transaction confirmations, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, collectively, the ShellISDA, whether one or more).

D.Other Persons may hereafter join in this Agreement, as provided herein, as Approved Hedge Counterparties.

E.Agent, BP, Shell, Borrower and Guarantors desire to enter into this Agreement to (i) establish the relative priorities of Lenders, Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties (as defined below), Agent and Approved Hedge Counterparties with respect to payment of (A) the Loan Obligations (as defined below) owed by Borrower to Lenders, Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties and Agent and (B) the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations (as defined below) owed by Borrower to Approved Hedge Counterparties, (ii) agree to the exercise of certain remedies and (iii) have Agent, BP and Shell appoint Amegy to serve, and Amegy agree to serve, as Collateral Agent (as defined below) for Agent and Approved Hedge Counterparties for the purposes of the holding of and the enforcement of Liens (as defined below) or other credit support created by and existing under the Security Instruments (as defined below) to secure the Loan Obligations, the BP Swap Obligations (as defined below), the Shell Swap Obligations (as defined below) and the other Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations (as defined below), the apportioning of Proceeds (as defined below) among Agent and Approved Hedge Counterparties and for the other purposes set forth herein.

AGREEMENTS:

In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises of this Agreement, and for other consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower, Guarantors, Approved Hedge Counterparties, Agent and Collateral Agent agree as follows, amending and restating in its entirety that certain Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of February 16, 2009 by and among Amegy, as Collateral Agent and Agent, Wayzata Investment Partners LLC, as Agent, BP, Borrower and Guarantors (to which Wayzata Investment Partners LLC, as Agent, is no longer a party as a result of the retirement of the obligations under the Wayzata Debt Agreement (as defined in such Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement)):

1.Definitions. As used in this Agreement, each of the terms defined above shall have the meaning assigned to such term above and each of the following terms shall have the meaning assigned to such term below in this Section 1:

Administrator has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 20 hereof.

Approved Hedge Agreement means any Commodity Hedge Agreement or Interest Rate Hedge Agreement between Borrower and an Approved Hedge Counterparty.

Approved Hedge Counterparties means BP, Shell and each other Person that is approved by Borrower, Agent and Collateral Agent and executes and delivers a Joinder Supplement (along with Agent, Collateral Agent, Borrower and Guarantors) as provided in Section 2(o) hereof.

Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations means all net amounts owed or to become owing by Borrower to an Approved Hedge Counterparty pursuant to an Approved Hedge Agreement or any Security Instrument, whether direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several or joint and several, together with all reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees

- 2 -

incurred in the enforcement or collection thereof and interest thereon after the commencement of any proceedings under any Debtor Relief Laws.

Arbitration Order has the mean assigned to such term in Section 20 hereof.

Blocking Period has the meaning specified in Section 4(b) hereof.

BP Swap Documents means the BP ISDA, including, but not limited to, each relevant confirmation of a transaction thereunder.

BP Swap Obligations means all net amounts owed or to become owing by Borrower to BP under the BP Swap Documents or under any Security Instrument, whether direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several or joint and several, together with all reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred in the enforcement or collection thereof, and interest thereon after the commencement of any proceedings under any Debtor Relief Laws.

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day in which banking institutions in Houston, Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Collateral means, all personal, real and mixed property and all other assets of Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person and Rights thereto described in and subject to a Lien under the Security Instruments.

Collateral Agent has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3 hereof.

Commodity Hedge Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties means “Approved Hedge Counterparties” as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement.

Crude Oil means all crude oil and condensate.

Debtor Relief Law means any applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, insolvency, rearrangement, moratorium, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws affecting the rights of creditors generally from time to time in effect.

Directing Creditor has the meaning specified in Section 4(a) hereof.

Dispute has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 20 hereof.

Exempt LC has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5(b) hereof.

Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative,

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judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government over Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective properties.

Guaranties has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Hedging Report means a monthly report, to be provided no later than the fifteenth (15^th) calendar day of each calendar month, setting out the (i) projected oil and gas production from the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and Guarantors, (ii) the volumes from Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower or any of Guarantors currently hedged for each such quarter and (iii) the volumes from Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and Guarantors available to be hedged pursuant to the Hedge Volume Limitations for each such quarter.

Hedge Volume Limitations means, as determined on any day on which Borrower enters into an oil or gas commodities hedging transaction under an Approved Hedge Agreement, the limitations set forth in Section 6.1 of the Credit Agreement.

Hydrocarbons means all Crude Oil, Natural Gas, distillate and sulphur.

Joinder Supplement means a supplement to this Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A, providing for a signatory thereto to become an Approved Hedge Counterparty under this Agreement.

Lien means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of such Property, whether such interest is based on common law, statute, or contract, and including, but not limited to, the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, ship mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt, or a lease, consignment, or bailment for security purposes (other than true leases or true consignments), liens of mechanics, materialmen, and artisans, maritime liens and reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property which secure an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of such Property (for the purpose of this Agreement, Borrower or the relevant Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes).

Loan Documents has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Loan Obligations means, subject to the provisions of Section 2(p) hereof, the “Obligations” (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

Natural Gas means all natural gas, and any natural gas liquids and all products recovered in the processing of natural gas (other than condensate) including, but not limited to, natural gasoline, casinghead gas, iso-butane, normal butane, propane and ethane (including such methane allowable in commercial ethane) produced from or attributable to the Collateral.

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Oil and Gas Properties has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Person has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Principal Agreements means the collective reference to the Loan Documents and all Approved Hedge Agreements.

Proceeds means any and all proceeds from any sale, exchange, destruction, condemnation, foreclosure, liquidation or other disposition of any of the Collateral, exercise of a right of offset under the Credit Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or enforcement of any of the Guaranties, including, but not limited to, under any Debtor Relief Law, any amounts constituting proceeds under Section 5(a)(ii) hereof and any proceeds of insurance or indemnity payments in respect of the Collateral; provided, however, if no Triggering Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the term “Proceeds” will not include sales of any oil or gas produced from or attributable to the Collateral in the ordinary course of Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s business or sales of other Collateral permitted under the Loan Documents and this Agreement.

Property has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Ratably or Ratable means as to any Secured Creditor, an amount equal to a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is (i) the Loan Obligations or (ii) the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, in each case owed to such Secured Creditor, and (b) the denominator of which is the sum of (i) all Loan Obligations and (ii) all Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations. For purposes of this definition, Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations shall exclude the undrawn face amount of any Exempt LC or the proceeds thereof that are being held by the relevant Approved Hedge Counterparty.

Reserve Report has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Right or Rights means rights, remedies, powers, privileges and benefits.

Secured Creditors means Agent, Lenders, any Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties and all Approved Hedge Counterparties.

Security Instruments means the “Security Documents” (as defined in the Credit Agreement), Section 2.24 of the Credit Agreement and any other security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, guaranties or other instruments securing the Total Obligations and includes, but not limited to, those documents listed in Schedule 1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

Shell Swap Documents means the Shell ISDA, including, but not limited to, each relevant confirmation of a transaction thereunder.

Shell Swap Obligations means all net amounts owed or to become owing by Borrower to Shell under the Shell Swap Documents or under any Security Instrument, whether direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several or joint and several, together with all reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred in the enforcement or collection thereof, and interest thereon after the commencement of any proceedings under any Debtor Relief Laws.

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Specified Loan Obligations means Loan Obligations deemed to be indebtedness covered by Section 5(c)(iii) hereof pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(p) hereof.

Total Obligations means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the Loan Obligations plus (b) the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations.

Triggering Event shall mean any of the following:

(i)    Collateral Agent shall have received from an Approved Hedge Counterparty written notice (with a copy to Borrower) that (A) either an event of default or a termination event has occurred and is continuing under one or more of its Approved Hedge Agreements, (B) an early termination date has been designated as a result thereof, (C) specifies the sum (which may be an estimate pending actual ascertation of such amounts) of all unpaid amounts and settlement payments then due as the result of the designation of such early termination date and the amount of interest and other amounts then due and payable by Borrower in respect thereof, and (D) the amount set forth in clause (C) has not been paid in full or discharged to the satisfaction of such Approved Hedge Counterparty; or

(ii)    Borrower shall have received from Agent written notice that (A) an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) has occurred and is continuing and (B) the unpaid principal amount of the Notes under the Credit Agreement and all interest accrued and unpaid thereon have been declared to be then due and payable.

UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in Texas from time to time.

In addition, additional capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

2.Obligations and Liens Pari Passu.

(a)Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations shall be pari passu in right of payment and the Loan Obligations and Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations shall be secured, Ratably, by the Liens and other credit support granted to or for the benefit of Collateral Agent under the Security Instruments.

(b)Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, (i) Borrower, Guarantors, Agent and, if applicable, Lenders shall execute, if applicable, an Amendment to the Credit Agreement which (A) authorizes Borrower and each Guarantor to grant a first priority Lien on its assets to Collateral Agent for the benefit of Approved Hedge Counterparties and (B) acknowledges and agrees that any first priority Lien granted to Agent or Collateral Agent by Borrower or any Guarantor to secure the Loan Obligations shall be held by Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, for the Ratable benefit of Secured Creditors, including, but not limited to, BP, Shell and all other Approved Hedge Counterparties, to secure all obligations of Borrower under Approved Hedge Agreements on a pari passu basis with the Loan Obligations; and (ii) Borrower, Guarantors

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and Collateral Agent shall execute, if applicable, Security Instruments or amendments to the Security Instruments in effect at the time of execution of this Agreement causing any Lien granted to or for the benefit of Collateral Agent under such Security Instruments (after giving effect to any such amendments) to secure, Ratably, the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations.

(c)Except as permitted by Section 22(d) hereof, each Approved Hedge Counterparty agrees that, without the prior written consent of Agent, it will not seek or accept credit support (excluding any netting or setoff rights, which are acknowledged to be for the sole benefit of the relevant Approved Hedge Counterparty, notwithstanding Section 4 hereof) for any Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligation other than its Rights under the Security Instruments. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent that any Approved Hedge Counterparty, with or without the written consent of Agent, hereafter obtains any guaranty or Lien on assets of Borrower or any Guarantor to secure all or any portion of its Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, the Lien held by such Approved Hedge Counterparty on such assets shall secure both the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations on a pari passu basis and shall be pari passu with any Lien now or hereafter existing in favor or for the benefit of Agent, any Approved Hedge Counterparty or Collateral Agent to secure any Loan Obligations or any Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, notwithstanding (i) the date, manner or order of any grant, attachment or perfection of any such Lien, (ii) any provision of the UCC, other applicable law, the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements or (iii) any manner of enforcement of any Lien or other Rights. Similarly, except as permitted by the provisions of Section 22(d) hereof, Agent agrees that, without the prior written consent of each Approved Hedge Counterparty, it will not seek or accept credit support for any Loan Obligation other than its Rights under the Security Instruments. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent Agent, with or without the written consent of any Approved Hedge Counterparty, hereafter obtains any guaranty or Lien on assets of Borrower or any Guarantor to secure all or any portion of the Loan Obligations, the Lien held by Agent on such assets shall secure both the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations on a pari passu basis and shall be pari passu with any Lien now or hereafter existing in favor or for the benefit of Agent, any Approved Hedge Counterparty or Collateral Agent to secure any Loan Obligations or any Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, notwithstanding (i) the date, manner or order of any grant, attachment or perfection of any such Lien, (ii) any provision of the UCC, other applicable law, the Loan Documents or any Approved Hedge Agreement or (iii) any manner of enforcement of any Lien or other Rights.

(d)Agent, Borrower and Guarantors agree that, upon execution of the documents required by Section 2(b) above (or, in the alternative, if execution of documents pursuant to Section 2(b) above is not required, upon execution of this Agreement), (i) any Lien under any Security Instrument securing, Ratably, the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations shall be a Permitted Lien (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (ii) the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations will be secured or supported by any Lien or other credit support granted to Collateral Agent pursuant to any Security Instrument.

(e)Subject to limitations on Commodity Hedge Agreements and Interest Rate Hedge Agreements provided in the Credit Agreement, Agent consents to Borrower entering into the BP

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Swap Documents, the Shell Swap Documents and Commodity Hedge Agreements and Interest Rate Hedge Agreements with other Approved Hedge Counterparties and agrees that each of the BP Swap Documents, the Shell Swap Documents and such other Commodity Hedge Agreements and Interest Rate Hedge Agreements is an Approved Hedge Agreement. BP, Shell and Agent acknowledge and agree that, upon execution of this Agreement, (i) BP and Shell are Approved Hedge Counterparties hereunder and (ii) the BP Swap Obligations and the Shell Swap Obligations constitute Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations and will be secured by the Security Instruments.

(f)The amounts payable by Borrower to any Secured Creditor at any time under any of the Principal Agreements to which such Secured Creditor is a party shall be separate and independent debts, and each Secured Creditor shall be entitled to enforce any right arising out of the applicable Principal Agreement to which it is a party, subject to the terms thereof and of this Agreement. Each Secured Creditor hereby agrees that no Secured Creditor (whether as the mortgagee, the grantee or the secured party, as the case may be, under the Security Instruments) shall have any right individually to realize upon any Liens or other credit support granted under the Security Instruments, it being understood and agreed that such remedies may be exercised only by Collateral Agent (as the mortgagee, the grantee or the secured party, as the case may be, under the Security Instruments) for the Ratable benefit of the Secured Creditors.

(g)All parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, each Approved Hedge Counterparty is entitled to exercise, solely for its benefit, any right of multiple transaction netting or setoff it may hold with respect to any of its Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations.

(h)Each of Agent and Approved Hedge Counterparties agrees: (i) to deliver to Collateral Agent and the other Secured Creditors party hereto, at the same time it makes delivery to Borrower or any Guarantor, a copy of any notice of default or termination event, notice of intent to accelerate or notice of acceleration with respect to any of the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, as applicable, subject to this Agreement and (ii) to deliver to Collateral Agent and the other Secured Creditors party hereto, at the same time it makes delivery to any other Person, a copy of any notice of the commencement of any judicial proceeding and a copy of any other notice with respect to the exercise of remedies with respect to any of the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, as applicable, subject to this Agreement.

(i)Reserved.

(j)No amendment to or modification of any of the Security Instruments may be effected without the prior written consent of Approved Hedge Counterparties (which consent shall not be withheld, conditioned or delayed unreasonably), if the effect of such amendment or modification would be to (i) cause the Security Instruments to secure obligations other than the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, (ii) change the priority of or subordinate the Liens or other credit support created thereby in any respect, (iii) materially modify any material remedy provided for therein, (iv) materially reduce or diminish the benefits of the security provided for in the Security Instruments or (v) otherwise have any material detrimental effect on the Approved Hedge Counterparties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any such amendment or modification made without such consent shall be null and void. Neither Collateral Agent nor Agent

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may release any Collateral under any of the Security Instruments prior to the payment in full and termination of the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, except (i) Collateral destroyed, lost, worn out, damaged or having only salvage value or no longer used or useful in the business in which it is used, (ii) to the extent that Borrower or any Guarantor has provided replacement Collateral of equal or greater value, (iii) releases of Collateral between redeterminations of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Credit Agreement) the aggregate loan value of which, as assigned thereto by Agent in the most recent setting of the Borrowing Base in accordance with the Credit Agreement, equals 10% or less of the amount of the then existing Borrowing Base and (iv) sales and other dispositions of Collateral in the ordinary course of business permitted by the Credit Agreement, so long as, except as to sales of produced Hydrocarbons, not exceeding, in the aggregate in any twelve-month period, 10% of the value of the Collateral at the start of each relevant twelve-month period.

(k)No amendment to or modification of the Credit Agreement may be effected without the prior written consent of all Approved Hedge Counterparties if the effect of such amendment or modification would adversely affect the priority of any Lien under any Security Instrument or would change the definition of Security Instrument or which would otherwise have any material detrimental effect on the Approved Hedge Counterpartys’ rights and obligations under this Agreement or which would reduce or diminish materially the benefits of the security provided for in the Security Instruments. Any such amendment or modification executed without such consent shall be null and void. Borrower hereby agrees to provide written notice to each Approved Hedge Counterparty no less than seven days prior to the earliest to occur of (i) the date of (A) signing or (B) closing of any replacement financing or any refinancing of the Credit Agreement or (ii) the date of any payment in full and retirement of the Credit Agreement, including with such notice a copy of the proposed replacement financing, refinancing or retirement of the Credit Agreement, as applicable.

(l)Agent hereby agrees to provide written notice to each Approved Hedge Counterparty reasonably in advance of the earlier of the date of signing or the effective date of any amendment to or modification of any Loan Document, including with such notice a copy of the proposed amendment or modification.

(m)Each of the Secured Creditors and Collateral Agent agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including, but not limited to, any proceeding under a Debtor Relief Law), the priority, validity or enforceability of a Lien held by or for the benefit of the Secured Creditors in any Collateral; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any such party to enforce this Agreement as provided herein.

(n)Borrower hereby agrees that each Approved Hedge Counterparty may provide to Agent, and each Approved Hedge Counterparty hereby agrees to provide to Agent, within a commercially reasonable time following receipt of a written request therefor from Agent, a copy of any trade confirmation pursuant to the applicable Approved Hedge Agreement not previously provided to Agent and Agent hereby agrees to keep all such information confidential and further agrees that it will not disclose such information to any other Approved Hedge Counterparty or to any other Person without the consent of the disclosing Approved Hedge Counterparty.

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(o)If any Person approved by Borrower, Guarantors, Agent and Collateral Agent desires to become an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” for the purposes of this Agreement and the Security Instruments, then it shall execute and deliver to Agent, Collateral Agent, Borrower and Guarantors a Joinder Supplement in the form of Exhibit A hereto. In each case, upon execution and delivery of such Joinder Supplement by such Person, Agent, Collateral Agent, Borrower and Guarantors, such Person shall be deemed an Approved Hedge Counterparty hereunder as if an original signatory. Joinder Supplements executed pursuant to this Section 2(o) do not require the signatures or consents of any Secured Creditors party to this Agreement other than Collateral Agent and Agent. Promptly after execution of any such Joinder Supplement, Collateral Agent will endeavor to send a copy thereof to each other Approved Hedge Counterparty.

(p)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the amount by which the sum of all Loans and the face amount of all Letters of Credit made or issued, as the case maybe, pursuant to the Credit Agreement causes such sum to exceed, at the time of the making of such Loan or issuance of such Letter of Credit, 85% of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and Guarantors shown on the then most recent Reserve Report prepared pursuant to and for Agent under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be indebtedness covered by Section 5(c)(iii) if such excess continues to exist upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event.

(q)Borrower shall prepare and provide a Hedging Report to Collateral Agent and each Approved Hedge Counterparty monthly. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 2(q), no Approved Hedge Counterparty consents to Borrower or Collateral Agent sharing with any other Approved Hedge Counterparty any trade confirmation of such Approved Hedge Counterparty or any information therein other than notional tenor and volumes, type of transaction and whether Borrower is a buyer or seller thereof.

3.Appointment of Amegy as Collateral Agent. Agent and each Approved Hedge Counterparty hereby appoints Amegy to (a) act as its collateral agent (in such capacity, CollateralAgent), in its name and on its behalf, in and under the Security Instruments, (b) hold the Liens on the Collateral, with power of sale, in its name for the benefit and security of Agent, acting on behalf of itself, Lenders and Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties, and Approved Hedge Counterparties and for enforcement and payment of the Loan Obligations and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, respectively, and (c) take such action on behalf of Agent, BP, Shell and the other Approved Hedge Counterparties under the terms and provisions of the Security Instruments and to exercise such rights and remedies under the Security Instruments as are specifically delegated to or required of Amegy, in its capacity as Collateral Agent, under the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Collateral Agent shall, within a commercially reasonable time, distribute to each of the relevant Secured Creditors its Ratable share of all Proceeds received by Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 5 below.

4.Collateral Agent’s Authority.

(a)1.1.1.1.1.1.1.Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Triggering Event under any Approved Hedge Agreement or the Credit Agreement, as applicable, Collateral Agent shall, upon the written direction of the relevant Approved Hedge Counterparty with respect to the relevant Approved Hedge Agreement or the Agent, as applicable (each, a Directing Creditor),

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and subject to this Agreement and the terms of the Loan Documents and applicable law, take any and all actions provided for in the Security Instruments relating to the pursuit of remedies, including, but not limited to, the foreclosure of Liens or other disposition of the Collateral; provided, however, that no Approved Hedge Counterparty shall have the right to require Collateral Agent to realize on any Liens or other credit support granted pursuant to the Security Instruments until the 30^th day after a Triggering Event of the type referred to in clause (i) of the definition of Triggering Event shall have occurred and provided further that such Triggering Event shall be continuing on such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any event of default occurs and is continuing (x) under Section 5(a)(vii) of the BP ISDA or the Shell ISDA with respect to Borrower, (y) under any Principal Agreement as a result of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to Borrower, or (z) under Section 5(a)(vi) of the BP ISDA or the Shell ISDA with respect to Borrower, as a result of the Loan Obligations being accelerated and Agent is actively attempting to collect the Loan Obligations by requiring Collateral Agent to realize upon the Collateral, the Approved Hedge Counterparty under the Approved Hedge Agreement under which such event of default is continuing may request Collateral Agent to realize on the Liens and other credit support granted pursuant to the Security Instruments immediately.

(b)If a 30-day standstill period provided for in Section 4(a) above (a Blocking Period) has commenced with respect to a Triggering Event, then for so long as such Triggering Event, as applicable, is continuing, any payments received by Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement and any payments received by an Approved Hedge Counterparty under an applicable Approved Hedge Agreement will be held for the Ratable benefit of the Secured Creditors until such time that such Triggering Event is no longer continuing or that Collateral Agent has commenced exercising remedies under the Security Instruments (including, but not limited to, the foreclosure of Liens) and distributing the Proceeds from such remedies Ratably to Secured Creditors (or, with respect to payment of the Loan Obligations, to Agent on behalf of itself, Lenders and any Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties) under Section 5(b) of this Agreement. All funds received in any deposit account of Borrower or any Guarantor subject to an account control agreement during such Blocking Period for the benefit of Borrower or the relevant Guarantor, Agent, Lenders and Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties shall be maintained in such deposit account and held for the Ratable benefit of the Secured Creditors until such time as such Blocking Period shall have expired. If a Triggering Event is otherwise cured or waived by the relevant Approved Hedge Counterparty prior to the end of such Blocking Period, such funds being held in such deposit account may be disbursed to Collateral Agent. If such Triggering Event is not cured or waived by the relevant Approved Hedge Counterparty prior to the expiration of such Blocking Period and a Directing Creditor directs Collateral Agent to exercise its rights under the Security Instruments, including, but not limited to, the relevant account control agreement, if any, with respect to such deposit account, in accordance with Section 4(a) above, then such funds will be disbursed in accordance with Section 5(b) of this Agreement.

(c)If a Triggering Event of the type referred to in clause (ii) of the definition of Triggering Event shall have occurred and is continuing, at the request of Agent, each Approved Hedge Counterparty requested to do so by Agent (without limitation of such Approved Hedge Counterparty’s rights under its Approved Hedge Agreement, including, but not limited to, the right to withhold payments under its Approved Hedge Agreement) shall make payments of any net

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amounts owing from such Approved Hedge Counterparty to Borrower under the applicable Approved Hedge Agreement to Collateral Agent to be held until such time that either (i) such Triggering Event is no longer continuing, in which case such payments shall be released to Borrower or (ii) Collateral Agent has commenced exercising remedies under the Security Instruments, in which case such payments shall be promptly distributed Ratably to the Secured Creditors pursuant to Section 5(b) below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Approved Hedge Counterparty shall be liable for amounts paid at the direction of Borrower pursuant to a notice received by Borrower after such a notice has been given by Agent.

(d)Collateral Agent shall cease to comply with any direction by a Directing Creditor pursuant to this Section 4 if (i) the Triggering Event under the Approved Hedge Agreement(s) or the Credit Agreement, as applicable, of such Directing Creditor has been cured or waived, (ii) the amounts owed by Borrower to the Directing Creditor under Approved Hedge Agreements or the Credit Agreement, as applicable, have been paid in full or otherwise discharged or (iii) either (A) the Directing Creditor is no longer an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” hereunder or (B) the Commodity Hedge Agreements of the Directing Creditor are no longer “Approved Hedge Agreements” hereunder.

5.Proceeds.

(a)The Secured Creditors hereby agree among themselves that (i) prior to the occurrence and continuation of a Triggering Event (and subject to Section 4(b) above), each Secured Creditor shall be entitled to receive and retain for its own account, and shall never be required to disgorge to Collateral Agent or any other Secured Creditor or acquire direct or participating interests in the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations owing to such Secured Creditor, scheduled payments or voluntary prepayments, payments of principal, interest, fees, settlement payments and any other payments in respect of the Principal Agreements, all in compliance with the terms thereof, and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Triggering Event (and during any Blocking Period), all such amounts shall be treated as if constituting Proceeds and shall be shared by the Secured Creditors Ratably and in accordance with Section 5(b) and Section 5(c) below.

(b)All Proceeds received by an Approved Hedge Counterparty or Amegy, in its individual capacity or in its capacity as Agent (other than Proceeds received from Collateral Agent as a distribution of Proceeds pursuant to applicable provisions of this Agreement) or in its capacity as Collateral Agent under this Agreement, shall be applied in accordance with this Section 5(b) and Section 5(c) below. To the extent any Secured Creditor ever receives any portion of such Proceeds in excess of its Ratable share (or to the extent Collateral Agent receives reimbursement in excess of expenses actually incurred), the party receiving those excess Proceeds agrees to make promptly all necessary transfers to the others so as to give full effect to this Section 5(b); provided, however, an Approved Hedge Counterparty shall not be obligated to hold in trust, pay over or share with Collateral Agent or any other Person, as applicable, any portion of the proceeds of any letter of credit which has been issued to such Approved Hedge Counterparty to remedy an Additional Termination Event (as defined in and in accordance with Part 1(h) of the Schedule to an Approved Hedge Agreement) or to secure any hedge transaction(s) between Borrower and such Approved

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Hedge Counterparty that exceed(s) the Hedge Volume Limitations (each an Exempt LC). Amegy, BP, Shell and all additional Approved Hedge Counterparties agree that each Exempt LC and any proceeds thereof are exempt from the requirements of Section 2(c) hereof; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5(b) is to be construed to permit Borrower to enter into Commodity Hedge Agreements except as permitted under the Credit Agreement.

(c)If a Triggering Event shall have occurred and is continuing, subject to the applicability of any Blocking Period, all Proceeds received by Collateral Agent shall be applied in the following order:

(i)First, to reimburse Collateral Agent for expenses in accordance with Section 6 below;

(ii)Second, Ratably to Secured Creditors (or, with respect to payment of the Loan Obligations, to Agent on behalf of itself, Lenders and any Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparties), respectively, for application against the Loan Obligations (other than the Specified Loan Obligations) and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations;

(iii)Third, Ratably to Secured Creditors (other than the Approved Hedge Counterparties) or to Agent on behalf of such Secured Creditors in satisfaction of the Specified Loan Obligations and any other indebtedness of Borrower, other than the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, secured by the Security Instruments; and

(iv)Fourth, to the extent that any Proceeds remain after the full payment of all of the amounts described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through (iii), to Borrower or any of Guarantors, as the case may be.

(d)Any amount otherwise payable to Agent, any Lender or any Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparty pursuant to clause (c)(ii) or (c)(iii) of this Section 5 shall instead by paid to Agent for distribution in accordance with Section 7.2(e) of the Credit Agreement.

6.Expenses. Each Secured Creditor shall bear its Ratable share of any reasonable and documented expenses incurred by Collateral Agent in taking action on behalf of Secured Creditors in connection with its investigation, evaluation or enforcement of any Rights under the Security Instruments, but only to the extent Collateral Agent does not receive reimbursement for such expenses from any other source(s) (excluding Secured Creditors) within a reasonable time after such expenses are incurred; provided that, to the extent any Secured Creditor reimburses Collateral Agent for such expenses, such Secured Creditor will be entitled to receive its Ratable share of any reimbursement subsequently received by Collateral Agent from any other source(s) (excluding Secured Creditors).

7.Limitation of Liability – Collateral Agent. Neither Collateral Agent nor any of its representatives shall be liable to any Secured Creditor for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under the Security Instruments in good faith and reasonably believed by it or them to be within the discretion or power conferred upon it or them by this Agreement and the Security Instruments or be responsible for the consequences of any error of judgment, except to the extent arising solely from its bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. Collateral Agent

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shall not be responsible in any manner to any other party for the effectiveness, enforceability, genuineness, validity or the due execution of the Security Instruments or for any representation, warranty, document, certificate, report or statement made in or in connection with the Security Instruments or be under any obligation to any other party to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observation of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any of the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements on the part of Borrower or any Guarantor. EACH OF AGENT (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, LENDERS AND CREDIT AGREEMENT APPROVED HEDGE COUNTERPARTIES RATABLY ON THE BASIS OF THE LOAN OBLIGATIONS OWED TO EACH) AND APPROVED HEDGE COUNTERPARTIES AGREES TO RATABLY INDEMNIFY COLLATERAL AGENT AND HOLD IT HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, REASONABLE EXPENSES AND/OR REASONABLE DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED ON, ASSERTED AGAINST OR INCURRED BY COLLATERAL AGENT IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS OR ANY ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED BY COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ANY OF THE SAME RESULTS SOLELY FROM THE BAD FAITH, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF COLLATERAL AGENT. Collateral Agent shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party or parties (provided that later notice shall not relieve indemnifying party(ies) of its liability and obligations under this Section 7 unless and to the extent the indemnifying party(ies) is/are prejudiced by such notice not being promptly provided) after any applicable claim is initiated against Collateral Agent and allow the indemnifying party(ies) to have sole control and authority of the defense and settlement of the claim; provided that Collateral Agent shall approve any settlement of a claim to which Collateral Agent is an actual party or could reasonably be expected to be a potential party and in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, so long as such settlement (a) includes an unconditional release of Collateral Agent from all liability in any way related to or arising out of such claim and (b) does not impose any actual or potential liability upon, or contain any factual or legal admission by or with respect to, Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party(ies) in the defense of such claims, including, but not limited to, providing reasonable assistance and information at the indemnifying party’s(ies’) expense.

8.Limitation of Liability – Agent and Approved Hedge Counterparties. Neither any Approved Hedge Counterparty, Collateral Agent nor Agent (nor any individual partner, member, director, employee or agent of any Approved Hedge Counterparty or Agent) shall incur any liability under this Agreement to the others except for liabilities arising from its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither any Secured Creditor nor Collateral Agent (nor any individual partner, member, director, employee or agent of any Secured Creditor or Collateral Agent) shall incur any liability under this Agreement to Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person except for liabilities arising from its bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct or its non-performance of this Agreement, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

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9.Term. Subject to Section 22 below, this Agreement shall terminate upon (a) the full and indefeasible payment of the Loan Obligations (other than contingent Loan Obligations with respect to which no claim has been made) and the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations (other than contingent Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations with respect to which no claim has been made) and (b) the execution and delivery of a written termination notice signed by each of the parties hereto as of such termination.

10.Resignation or Removal of Collateral Agent.

(a)Should all of the Loan Obligations (other than contingent Loan Obligations with respect to which no claim has been made) be fully and indefeasibly paid or satisfied at a point in time when any Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligation (other than contingent Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations with respect to which no claim has been made) remains outstanding, Amegy may resign as Collateral Agent hereunder by providing to each Approved Hedge Counterparty and Borrower written notice of such resignation no less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation set forth in such written notice. Upon such resignation by Collateral Agent, Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver assignments, in form and substance mutually satisfactory to Agent and all Approved Hedge Counterparties, to a successor Collateral Agent designated by Approved Hedge Counterparties and, so long as no Potential Event of Default, Event of Default or Termination Event (as each such term is defined in the BP ISDA, the Shell ISDA or any other ISDA Master Agreement or schedule thereto between Borrower and any other Approved Hedge Counterparty, as applicable) exists under the BP ISDA, the Shell ISDA or any such other ISDA Master Agreement between Borrower and any other Approved Hedge Counterparty, approved by Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), of the rights of the mortgagee, the secured party or the grantee, as the case may be, under the Security Instruments. Such assignments shall be prepared at the expense of Borrower, provided that such expense is documented and reasonable. Following such resignation by Collateral Agent and execution and delivery of such assignments, Collateral Agent shall have no further duties, responsibilities or liabilities under this Agreement, but shall remain entitled to the benefit of the indemnification of Collateral Agent provided in this Agreement and to reimbursement, in accordance with applicable provisions of this Agreement, of expenses incurred in the discharge of the duties of Collateral Agent prior to the effective date of such resignation.

(b)If Collateral Agent fails to take any material action under the Security Instruments to protect or realize upon the Collateral following a Triggering Event as required under Section 4.1(a) above within a reasonable time after being requested to do so in writing by an Approved Hedge Counterparty or Collateral Agent materially breaches its obligations to diligently pursue such action as required under this Agreement, then such Approved Hedge Counterparty may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to replace Collateral Agent with another Person, which may be an Approved Hedge Counterparty. Such replacement Collateral Agent may take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable to secure and enforce the Security Instruments. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall decide to replace Collateral Agent, any successor Collateral Agent shall be required to apply all proceeds of any realization upon the Collateral in accordance with Section 5(c) above, provided that any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the

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replacement of Collateral Agent may be paid to the Person incurring such expenses from proceeds of the Collateral pursuant to Section 5(c)(i) above.

11.Survival of Rights. All of the respective rights and interests of Agent, Approved Hedge Counterparties and Collateral Agent under this Agreement (and the respective obligations and agreements of Agent, Approved Hedge Counterparties and Collateral Agent under this Agreement), shall remain in full force and effect regardless of:

(a)any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements or any other agreement or instrument related thereto; or

(b)any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or discharge of, Borrower or any Guarantor with respect to the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations (other than the (i) defense that such obligations have been fully satisfied and (ii) termination of this Agreement in accordance with Sections 9 and 22 hereof).

12.Representations and Warranties. Each of Agent, Approved Hedge Counterparties, Borrower and Collateral Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that:

(a)neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor its performance of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement to which it is now subject, including, but not limited to, any of the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements;

(b)it has all requisite authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and

(c)this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject only to applicable Debtor Relief Laws and general principles of equity.

13.Further Assurances. Each of Agent, Approved Hedge Counterparties, Borrower, Guarantors and Collateral Agent covenants that, as long as this Agreement remains in effect, it will execute and deliver any and all other documents or instruments reasonably requested by any other party hereto to give effect to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Security Instruments.

14.Assignment; Agreement Binding on Successors and Assigns. As long as this Agreement remains in effect, neither Agent, any Lender, any Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparty nor any Approved Hedge Counterparty will sell, assign or otherwise transfer all or any part of the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations, as the case may be, owing to it unless such sale, assignment or transfer is made expressly subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon and enforceable against, Borrower, Guarantors, Agent, Lenders, each Credit Agreement Approved Hedge Counterparty, each Approved Hedge Counterparty and Collateral Agent and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

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15.Notice. Unless otherwise provided, any consent, request, notice, or other communication under or in connection with this Agreement must be in writing to be effective and shall be deemed to have been given (a) if by mail, on the third Business Day after it is enclosed in an envelope and properly addressed, stamped, sealed, certified return receipt requested, and deposited in the appropriate official postal service, or (b) if by courier, electronic transmissions, or facsimile transmission, when actually delivered. Until changed by a subsequent notice delivered in accordance with this Section 15, notices for each party are to be directed to:

For delivery to BP:
BP Energy Company
Attn: Contract Services
201 Helios Way
Houston, Texas 77079
Telephone: (713) 323-2000
Facsimile: (713) 323-0203

For delivery to Shell:
Shell Energy North America (US), L.P.
Attn: Contract Administration909 Fannin, Plaza Level 1
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (877) 504-2491Facsimile: (713) 230-7580

with copies to:
Shell Energy North America (US), L.P.
Attn: General Counsel
909 Fannin, Plaza Level 1
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (713) 767-5400
Facsimile: (713) 230-2900

and
Shell Energy North America (US), L.P.
Attn: Vice President – Credit
909 Fannin, Plaza Level 1
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (713) 767-5329
Facsimile: (713) 265-3030

For delivery to any other
Approved Hedge Counterparty:

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    To the address for notices    specified in the Joinder Supplement    to which it is a party

For delivery to Borrower or any Guarantor:
Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.
Attn: Michael A. Gerlich
1331 Lamar, Suite 650
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (713) 739-1800
Facsimile: (713) 739-0458

For delivery to Agent or Collateral Agent:
Amegy Bank National Association
Attn: Energy Lending Dept.
4400 Post Oak Parkway, 4^th Floor
Houston, Texas 77027
Telephone: (713) 232-1110
Facsimile: (713) 561-0345

16.Amendments. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(o), this Agreement may only be waived, amended or modified by a written agreement signed by Collateral Agent and each of the other parties hereto.

17.Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT MUST BE CONSTRUED, AND ITS PERFORMANCE ENFORCED, UNDER TEXAS LAW, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LAWS OF TEXAS AS TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

18.Invalid Provisions. If any part of this Agreement is for any reason found to be unenforceable, all other portions nevertheless remain enforceable. However, if the provision held to be unenforceable is a material part of the Agreement, such unenforceable provision may, to the extent permitted by law, be replaced by a clause or provision judicially construed and interpreted to be as similar in substance and content to the original terms of such provision as the context would reasonably allow, so that such clause or provision would thereafter be enforceable.

19.Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatories had signed the same document and will be effective upon the execution of one or more counterparts hereof by each of the parties hereto. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. In this regard, each of the parties hereto acknowledges that a counterpart of this Agreement containing a set of counterpart execution pages reflecting the execution of each party hereto shall be sufficient to reflect the execution of this Agreement by each party hereto. All counterparts will, taken together, constitute

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one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

20.Dispute Resolution. THIS SECTION 20 CONTAINS A JURY WAIVER, A CLASS ACTION WAIVER AND AN ARBITRATION PROVISION. READ CAREFULLY.

(a)This dispute resolution provision shall supersede and replace any prior “Jury Waiver,” “Judicial Reference,” “Class Action Waiver,” “Arbitration,” “Dispute Resolution” or similar alternative dispute agreement or provision between or among the parties hereto.

(b)As permitted by applicable law, each party hereto hereby knowingly, voluntarily, intentionally, irrevocably and unconditionally WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BEFORE A JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CLAIM, DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (each of the foregoing, a “Dispute”), and, except as provided below in this Section 20, DISPUTES, SHALL BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY. If a court determines that this provision is not enforceable for any reason and at any time prior to trial of the Dispute, but not later than 30 days after entry of the order determining this provision is unenforceable, any party hereto shall be entitled to move the court for an order compelling arbitration and staying or dismissing such litigation pending arbitration (an “Arbitration Order”). If permitted by applicable law, EACH PARTY ALSO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE IN COURT OR AN ARBITRATION PROCEEDING ANY DISPUTE AS A CLASS ACTION, EITHER AS A MEMBER OF A CLASS OR AS A REPRESENTATIVE, OR TO ACT AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(c)If a Dispute arises, and only if a jury trial waiver is not permitted by applicable law or ruling by a court, any party may require that the Dispute be resolved by binding arbitration before a single arbitrator. BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATE A DISPUTE, EACH PARTY HERETO GIVES UP ANY RIGHT THAT PARTY MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL AS WELL AS OTHER RIGHTS THAT IT WOULD HAVE IN COURT THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE OR ARE MORE LIMITED IN ARBITRATION, SUCH AS THE RIGHTS TO DISCOVERY AND TO APPEAL.

Arbitration shall be commenced by filing a petition with, and in accordance with the applicable arbitration rules of, JAMS or National Arbitration Forum (the “Administrator”) as selected by the initiating party. If the parties to the Dispute agree, arbitration may be commenced by appointment of a licensed attorney who is selected by the parties to the Dispute and who agrees to conduct the arbitration without an Administrator. Disputes include matters (i) relating to a deposit account, application for or denial of credit, enforcement of any of the obligations any party hereto has to any of the other parties hereto, compliance with applicable laws and/or regulations, performance of services provided under any agreement by any party hereto, (ii) based on or arising from an alleged tort or (iii) involving any party’s employees, agents, affiliates or assigns, Disputes do not, however, include the validity, enforceability, meaning or scope of this arbitration provision and such matters may be determined only by a court. If a third party is a party to a Dispute, each party hereto consents to including the third party in the arbitration proceeding for resolving the

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Dispute with the third party. Venue for the arbitration proceeding shall be in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

If a court issues an Arbitration Order, all parties to the Dispute that did not seek the Arbitration Order shall commence arbitration. The party hereto that sought the Arbitration Order may commence arbitration, but shall have no obligation to do so, and shall not in any way be adversely prejudiced by initiating or participating in litigation or electing not to commence arbitration. The arbitrator shall (i) hear and rule on appropriate dispositive motions for judgment on the pleadings, for failure to state a claim or for full or partial summary judgment, (ii) render a decision and any award applying applicable law, (iii) give effect to any limitations period in determining any Dispute or defense, (iv) enforce the doctrines of compulsory counterclaim, res judicata and collateral estoppel, if applicable, (v) with regard to motions and the arbitration hearing, apply rules of evidence governing civil cases and (vi) apply the law of the state specified in the agreement giving rise to the Dispute. Filing of a petition for arbitration shall not prevent any party from (i) seeking and obtaining from a court of competent jurisdiction (notwithstanding ongoing arbitration) provisional or ancillary remedies including injunctive relief, property preservation orders, foreclosure, eviction, attachment, replevin, garnishment and/or the appointment of a receiver, (ii) pursuing non-judicial foreclosure or (iii) availing itself of any self-help remedies, such as setoff and repossession. The exercise of such rights shall not constitute a waiver of the right to submit any Dispute to arbitration.

Judgment upon an arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction, except that, if the arbitration award exceeds $4,000,000, any party to the relevant Dispute shall be entitled to a de novo appeal of the award before a panel of three arbitrators. To allow for such appeal, if the award (including the Administrator’s, the arbitrator’s and attorney’s fees and costs) exceeds $4,000,000, the arbitrator will issue a written, reasoned decision supporting the award, including a statement of authority and its application to the Dispute. A request for de novo appeal must be filed with the arbitrator within 30 days following the date of the arbitration award. If such a request is not made within that time period, the arbitration decision shall become final and binding. On appeal, the arbitrators shall review the award de novo, meaning that they shall reach their own findings of fact and conclusions of law, rather than deferring in any manner to the original arbitrator. Appeal of an arbitration award shall be pursuant to the rules of the Administrator or, if the Administrator has no such rules, then the JAMS arbitration appellate rules shall apply.

Arbitration under this provision concerns a transaction involving interstate commerce and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. This arbitration provision shall survive any termination, amendment or expiration of this Agreement. If the terms of this provision vary from the Administrator’s rules, this arbitration provision shall control.

(d)Each party hereto (i) certifies that no one has represented to such party that any other party would not seek to enforce jury and class action waivers in the event of suit, and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers, agreements and certifications in this Section 20.

21.Waiver of Punitive and Consequential Damages. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, INTENTIONALLY AND IRREVOCABLY (A) WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY AND

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EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER, IN ANY DISPUTE BASED HEREON, OR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AT ANY TIME ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES (IT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED THAT DAMAGES CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 6(E) OF THE BP ISDA, THE SHELL ISDA OR ANY OTHER ISDA MASTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN BORROWER AND ANY OTHER APPROVED HEDGE COUNTERPARTY ARE ACTUAL DAMAGES FOR PURPOSES OF THIS WAIVER) AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 21.

22.Reinstatement; Termination.

(a)If at any time any payment of the Loan Obligations or the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower or any Guarantor or otherwise, the obligations of Borrower, Guarantors, Agent, Approved Hedge Counterparties and Collateral Agent under this Agreement, with respect to that payment, shall be reinstated as though the payment had been due but not made at that time.

(b)If all of the Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations (other than contingent Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations with respect to which no claim has been made) have been indefeasibly paid in full or terminated (and all settlement amounts, unpaid amounts, interest and other amounts then due to each Approved Hedge Counterparty thereunder have been paid in full) or the terms of all Approved Hedge Agreements have otherwise expired, in the sole determination of each Approved Hedge Counterparty under its Approved Hedge Agreement, then, at the request of Borrower, all of the parties hereto as of such time shall terminate this Agreement in writing and this Agreement shall thereupon be terminated in all respects and for all purposes.

(c)If all of the Approved Hedge Agreements with an Approved Hedge Counterparty have been indefeasibly paid in full or terminated (and all settlement amounts, unpaid amounts, interest and other amounts then due to such Approved Hedge Counterparty have been paid in full) or the terms of all such contracts have otherwise expired, in the sole determination of each Approved Hedge Counterparty under its Approved Hedge Agreement, then, upon written notice from such Approved Hedge Counterparty or Borrower (confirmed in writing by the other) to each other Approved Hedge Counterparty, Agent and Collateral Agent of such circumstance, such counterparty shall cease to be an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” for all purposes, shall be deemed removed as an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” under this Agreement and shall thereafter have no rights under the Security Instruments.

(d)If Borrower has issued or arranged for a third party to issue to an Approved Hedge Counterparty a letter of credit as credit support replacement for the Security Instruments then securing such Approved Hedge Counterparty (such letter of credit to be in form and substance and in an amount and from an issuing bank satisfactory to such Approved Hedge Counterparty) to secure payment of any of its obligations under the Approved Hedge Agreements to which such Approved

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Hedge Counterparty is a party, any Approved Hedge Counterparty Obligations supported by such a letter of credit (and only to the extent of the undrawn face amount thereof) shall not be secured by the Security Instruments so long as such a letter of credit remains legally enforceable and valid.

(e)Any Approved Hedge Counterparty under this Agreement and the Security Instruments may at any time elect to no longer be an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” under this Agreement and the Security Instruments by giving written notice to Collateral Agent, Agent, all other Approved Hedge Counterparties and Borrower, and upon delivery of such written notice, such counterparty shall cease to be an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” for all purposes, and each Commodity Hedge Agreement of such Person shall cease to be an Approved Hedge Agreement.

23.Controlling Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements, to the extent the terms of this Agreement directly conflict with a provision in any of the Loan Documents or the Approved Hedge Agreements, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

24.Integration. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS REFERENCED HEREIN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ALL JOINDER SUPPLEMENTS, REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG AGENT, APPROVED HEDGE COUNTERPARTIES, BORROWER, GUARANTORS AND COLLATERAL AGENT WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BY SUCH PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG SUCH PARTIES.

25.Confidentiality. The contents of this Agreement, the Approved Hedge Agreements and any information provided by Borrower or Guarantors to Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lenders in connection with any Approved Hedge Agreement, and all other documents relating to this Agreement or the Approved Hedge Agreements, including, but not limited to, the prices and the mark to market data for existing transactions, and any information made available by one party to another party with respect to this Agreement and the Approved Hedge Agreements is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party (nor shall any public announcement relating to this Agreement be made by any party), except for such information (a) as may become generally available to the public, (b) as may be required or appropriate in response to any summons, subpoena or otherwise in connection with any litigation or to comply with any applicable law, order, regulation, ruling or accounting disclosure rule or standard or to comply with any request of any regulatory authority, (c) as may be obtained from a non-confidential source that disclosed such information in a manner that did not violate its confidential obligations to any party hereto in making such disclosure, (d) as may be furnished to the disclosing party’s Affiliates (as defined in the Credit Agreement), and to each of such Person’s auditors, attorneys, advisors or lenders which are required to keep the information that is disclosed in confidence or (e) identifying notional quantities. With respect to information provided with respect to a transaction, this obligation shall survive for a period of one year following the expiration or termination of such transaction. With respect to information provided with respect to this Agreement, this obligation shall survive for a period of one year following the expiration or termination of this Agreement. With respect to the relationship

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between Borrower or Guarantors and an Approved Hedge Counterparty (other than Shell), any confidentiality provisions under an Approved Hedge Agreement shall govern and control to the extent that the terms of this Agreement directly conflict with the confidentiality obligations under such Approved Hedge Agreement. With respect to the relationship between Borrower or Guarantors and Shell, any confidentiality provisions under an Approved Hedge Agreement shall be binding as between the Borrower or Guarantors and Shell and, as to information and documentation provided pursuant to such Approved Hedge Agreement, the Borrower or Guarantors and Shell who are parties thereto shall not be bound by the provisions of this Section 25 preceding this sentence.

(Signatures appear on following pages)

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement as of the date first hereinabove written.

BP:BP ENERGY COMPANY
By:     /s/ S. J. Provenzano                        Name: S. J. Provenzano                    Title: Vice President                    

(Signatures continue on following pages)

Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

SHELL:SHELL ENERGY NORTH AMERICA (US), L.P.
By:     /s/ John Preble                        
Name: John Preble                    Title: Vice President                    

(Signatures continue on following pages)

Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

BORROWER:
GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.By:     /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich    Secretary and TreasurerGUARANTORS:
GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.
By:     /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich    Vice President and    Chief Financial Officer
GASTAR EXPLORATION NEW SOUTH
WALES, INC.
By:     /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich    Secretary and Treasurer
GASTAR EXPLORATION VICTORIA, INC.
By: /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich    Secretary and Treasurer

(Signatures continue on following pages)

Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, INC.
By: /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich    Secretary and Treasurer
GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, LP
By:    Gastar Exploration Texas LLC,    its General Partner    By: /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                            Michael A. Gerlich        Secretary and Treasurer
GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS LLC
By: /s/ Michael A. Gerlich                                Michael A. Gerlich    Secretary and Treasurer

(Signatures continue on following page)

Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

AGENT:
AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Agent
By:    /s/ Mark A. Serice                            Mark A. Serice    Senior Vice President

COLLATERAL AGENT:AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:    /s/ Mark A. Serice                            Mark A. Serice    Senior Vice President

Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

Schedule 1

Listing of Certain Security Instruments

1.	First Lien Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated November 29, 2007 from Gastar Exploration Texas, LP to W. Bryan Chapman, Trustee for the benefit of Amegy Bank National Association filed and recorded as follows:
	JURISDICTION	FILING DATA
	TEXAS
	Leon County	Filed December 10, 2007 under Document No. 00351068, Volume 1343, Page 1, Official Records
	Robertson County	Filed December 6, 2007 under Document No. 20077286, Volume 1014, Page 1, Official Records
	as amended and ratified by that certain Ratification of and Amendment to First Lien Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective March 31, 2008, by and between Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Amegy Bank National Association, as Agent, filed and recorded as follows:
	JURISDICTION	FILING DATA
	TEXAS
	Leon County	Filed May 16, 2008 under Document No. 00355160, Volume 1361, Pages 748-755, Official Records Book

S1-1

	Robertson County		Filed May 15, 2008 under Document No. 20083555, Volume 1035, Pages 499-506, Official Records Book
		as amended and restated by the document listed as 2 below,
		and as amended and ratified by that certain Amendment to and Ratification of Amended and Restated First Lien Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
2.		Amended and Restated First Lien Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration Texas, LP to W. Bryan Chapman, Trustee for the benefit of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent; filed and recorded as follows:
		as amended and ratified by that certain Amendment to and Ratification of Amended and Restated First Lien Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
		JURISDICTION	FILING DATA
		TEXAS
		Leon County	Filed February 18, 2009 under Document No. 00361105, Volume 1388, Page 562, Official Records
		Robertson County	Filed February 18, 2009 under Document No. 20090791, Volume 1066, Page 84
3.		First Lien Credit Line Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. to William M. Herlihy, Trustee for the benefit of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent; filed and recorded as follows:
		JURISDICTION	FILING DATA

S1-2

	WEST VIRGINIA
	Doddridge County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 94514, in Trust Deed Book 177, Page 387
	Gilmer County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 2601, in Trust Deed Book 163, Page 87
	Harrison County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 200900005682, in Trust Deed Book 1166, Page 100
	Lewis County	Recorded February 20, 2009 in Trust Deed Book No. 366, Page 1
	Marion County	Recorded February 24, 2009 as Instrument No. 200900002210, in Trust Deed Book 947, Page 112
	Marshall County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 1264326, in Trust Deed Book 840, Page 215
	Monongalia County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 312456, in Trust Deed Book 1677, Page 85
	Pleasants County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 584091, in Trust Deed Book 137, Page 309
	Wetzel County	Recorded February 20, 2009 as Instrument No. 88365, in Trust Deed Book 342, Page 37
	as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to and Ratification of First Lien Credit Line Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
4.	First Lien Credit Line Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in favor of William M. Herlihy, Trustee for the benefit of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.

S1-3

5.	First Lien Open-End Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. to Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent; filed and recorded as follows:
	JURISDICTION	FILING DATA
	PENNSYLVANIA
	Fayette County	Filed February 20, 2009 under Instrument No. 200900001771, Book 3086, Page 1057, Official Records
	Greene County	Filed February 20, 2009 under Document No. 200900000748, Book 405, Page 115
	Somerset County	Filed February 20, 2009 under Instrument No. 2009001443, Book 2097, Page 1
	as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to and Ratification of First Lien Open-End Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
6.	First Lien Open-End Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated effective August 27, 2012 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. to Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
7.	Amended and Restated First Lien Security Agreement dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., Gastar Exploration New South Wales, Inc., Gastar Exploration Victoria, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas LLC and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated First Lien Security Agreement dated effective August 27, 2012 by and among Gastar Exploration USA, Inc., Gastar Exploration New South Wales, Inc., Gastar Exploration Victoria, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas LLC, Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
8.	Amended and Restated First Lien Security Agreement (Pledge) dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration Ltd. in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated First Lien Security Agreement (Pledge) dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration Ltd. and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.

S1-4

9.	Amended and Restated First Lien Security Agreement (Pledge) dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to First Lien Security Agreement (Pledge) dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
10.	Amended and Restated First Lien Collateral Assignment of Membership Interest and Partnership Interest (Security Agreement) dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration Texas, Inc. in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to First Lien Collateral Assignment of Membership Interest and Partnership Interest (Security Agreement) dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration Texas, Inc. and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
11.	Amended and Restated First Lien Collateral Assignment of Partnership Interest (Security Agreement) dated February 16, 2009 from Gastar Exploration Texas LLC in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, as amended and ratified by that certain First Amendment to First Lien Collateral Assignment of Partnership Interest (Security Agreement) dated effective August 27, 2012 by and between Gastar Exploration Texas LLC and Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.
12.	Amended and Restated First Lien Guaranty dated effective August 27, 2012 by Gastar Exploration, Ltd., Gastar Exploration New South Wales, Inc., Gastar Exploration Victoria, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas, Inc., Gastar Exploration Texas LLC and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP in favor of Amegy Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.

S1-5

Exhibit A

JOINDER SUPPLEMENT

This Joinder Supplement (this “Supplement”) dated as of ____________ is executed by ___________________________________________ (“New Approved Hedge Counterparty”), GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), GASTAR EXPLORATION, LTD., an Alberta, Canada corporation (“Parent”), GASTAR EXPLORATION NEW SOUTH WALES, INC., a Michigan corporation (“Gastar New South Wales”), GASTAR EXPLORATION VICTORIA, INC., a Michigan corporation (“Gastar Victoria”), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, INC., a Michigan corporation (“Gastar Texas Inc.”), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Gastar Texas LP”), GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Gastar Texas LLC”, and Parent, Gastar New South Wales, Gastar Victoria, Gastar Texas Inc., Gastar Texas LP and Gastar Texas LLC, collectively, “Guarantors”), and AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent (in such capacity, “Agent”) and as Collateral Agent (in such capacity, “Collateral Agent”).

All capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement (as defined below).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Borrower, Guarantors, Agent (as defined therein), Collateral Agent, BP Energy Company and Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. have heretofore executed and delivered to Collateral Agent that certain Amended and Restated Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of August 27, 2012 (as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), providing for, among other matters, the relative rights and obligations and apportionment of certain collections among Secured Creditors (as defined therein) and the exercise of certain remedies under the Security Instruments (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, the Agreement provides that one or more additional Persons (as defined therein) may become Approved Hedge Counterparties thereunder if each such Person is approved by Agent, Collateral Agent and Borrower and becomes an Approved Hedge Counterparty for the purposes of the Agreement and the Security Instruments by executing and delivering a Joinder Supplement (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, New Approved Hedge Counterparty desires to become an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” under the Agreement;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

2.Recognition; Approved ISDA. Borrower, Agent and Collateral Agent hereby recognize New Approved Hedge Counterparty as an “Approved Hedge Counterparty” under the

A-1

Agreement and the Security Instruments and, thus, a “Secured Third Party Hedge Counterparty” under the Credit Agreement (as defined in the Agreement).

3.Agreement to be Bound. New Approved Hedge Counterparty hereby agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Agreement as, and assumes all of the obligations of, an Approved Hedge Counterparty thereunder. New Approved Hedge Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that the terms of the Agreement shall control over the terms of the Approved Hedge Agreement to which New Approved Hedge Counterparty is a party, to the extent any conflict exists between the Agreement and such Approved Hedge Agreement.

4.Ratification of Agreement; Joinder Supplement Part of Agreement. This Supplement shall form a part of the Agreement for all purposes. As expressly supplemented hereby, the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect.

5.No Representation by Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of the Security Instruments, and New Approved Hedge Counterparty acknowledges, consents to and accepts the disclaimers by, and limitations on the liability of, Collateral Agent that are provided in the Agreement.

6.Representations and Warranties of New Approved Hedge Counterparty. New Approved Hedge Counterparty represents and warrants to the other Secured Creditors that:

(a)neither the execution and delivery of this Supplement or the Agreement nor its performance of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement to which it is now subject;

(b)it has all requisite authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Supplement and the Agreement; and

(c)each of this Supplement and the Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject only to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws and general principles of equity.

7.Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of counterparts of this Joinder Supplement, and different parties may sign on different signature pages. Each signed counterpart shall be an original, but all of them together shall represent the same Joinder Supplement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Joinder Supplement by facsimile transmission or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

A-2

8.Address for Notices. All notices and other communications given to New Approved Hedge Counterparty under the Agreement may be given at its address or telecopier number as follows:

[New Approved Hedge Counterparty][Address]Attention:Telecopier No.:

(Signatures appear on following pages)

A-3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Joinder Supplement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

NEW APPROVED HEDGE
COUNTERPARTY: [] 
By: 
Name: 
Title:

(Signatures continue on following pages)

Signature Page – Joinder Supplement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

BORROWER:







GUARANTORS: GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC. 
By: 
Name: Title: GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. 
By: 
Name: Title:  
GASTAR EXPLORATION NEW SOUTH WALES, INC. 
By: 
Name: Title:  
GASTAR EXPLORATION VICTORIA, INC. 
By: 
Name: Title:  
GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, INC. 
By: 
Name: Title:

(Signatures continue on following page)

Signature Page – Joinder Supplement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS, LPBy: 
Name: Title: 
GASTAR EXPLORATION TEXAS LLCBy: 
Name: Title:

(Signatures continue on following page)

AGENT:	AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent  By:  Name: Title:
COLLATERAL AGENT:	AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent  By:  Name: Title:

8149902v.4

Signature Page – Joinder Supplement – Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 7241, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, J. Russell Porter, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designated under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER

J. Russell Porter

President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 7241, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael A. Gerlich, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designated under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH

Michael A. Gerlich

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-31.3

Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 7241, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, J. Russell Porter, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designated under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER

J. Russell Porter

President

EX-31.4

Exhibit 31.4

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 7241, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael A. Gerlich, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designated under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH

Michael A. Gerlich

Secretary and Treasurer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, J. Russell Porter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (the “Company”), hereby certify that the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (the “Report”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

I further certify that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER

J. Russell Porter

President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael A. Gerlich, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gastar Exploration Ltd. (the “Company”), hereby certify that the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (the “Report”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

I further certify that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH

Michael A. Gerlich

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.3

Exhibit 32.3

Certification of Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, J. Russell Porter, President of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify that the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (the “Report”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

I further certify that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ J. RUSSELL PORTER

J. Russell Porter

President

EX-32.4

Exhibit 32.4

Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael A. Gerlich, Secretary and Treasurer of Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify that the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (the “Report”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

I further certify that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 7, 2012

/S/ MICHAEL A. GERLICH

Michael A. Gerlich

Secretary and Treasurer

XML

Capital Stock (Schedule of Preferred Stock Redemption Dates) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012
On or after June 23, 2012 and prior to June 23, 2013
Redemption Price	$ 25.50
On or after June 23, 2013 and prior to June 23, 2014
Redemption Price	$ 25.25
On or after June 23, 2014
Redemption Price	$ 25

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Net Change in the Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis and Included in the Level 3 Fair Value Category) (Details) (Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3, Commodity, Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Commodity | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period					$ 15,873		$ 15,199		$ 15,460	$ 13,286
Total Gains Losses Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
included in earnings	(2,045)		4,813		4,594		7,596
included in other comprehensive income	0		0		0		0
Purchases	0		0		0		0
Issuances	0		0		0		0
Settlements	(4,314)	[1]	(2,853)	[1]	(11,366)	[1]	(7,549)	[1]
Transfers in and (out) of Level 3	0		0		0		0
Balance at end of period	9,101		15,246		9,101		15,246		15,460	13,286
The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets	$ (5,403)		$ 2,424		$ (4,123)		$ 1,027

[1] Included in total revenues on the statement of operations.

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012			2011
	(in thousands, except per share and share data)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd.	$	(83,457	)	$	1,014	$	(163,802	)	$	(795	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	63,601,645			63,238,069		63,494,224			62,901,860
Incremental shares from unvested restricted shares	—			551,687		—			—
Incremental shares from outstanding stock options	—			52,342		—			—
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	63,601,645			63,842,098		63,494,224			62,901,860
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Diluted	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive:
Unvested restricted shares	1,878,355			500		1,654,439			149,960
Stock options	979,725			838,200		926,271			857,825
Warrants	—			2,000,000		—			2,000,000
Total	2,858,080			2,838,700		2,580,710			3,007,785

XML

Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net Income (loss) attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd	$ (83,457)	$ 1,014	$ (163,802)	$ (795)
Weighted average common shares outstanding basic (shares)	63,601,645	63,238,069	63,494,224	62,901,860
Weighted average common shares outstanding diluted (shares)	63,601,645	63,842,098	63,494,224	62,901,860
Basic (dollars per share)	$ (1.31)	$ 0.02	$ (2.58)	$ (0.01)
Diluted (dollars per share)	$ (1.31)	$ 0.02	$ (2.58)	$ (0.01)
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive (shares)	2,858,080	2,838,700	2,580,710	3,007,785
Restricted Stock
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive (shares)	1,878,355	500	1,654,439	149,960
Stock Options
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive (shares)	979,725	838,200	926,271	857,825
Warrants
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive (shares)	0	2,000,000	0	2,000,000
Restricted Stock
Incremental shares from outstanding stock options (shares)	0	551,687	0	0
Stock Options
Incremental shares from outstanding stock options (shares)	0	52,342	0	0

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Capital Stock (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 03, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA Inc.	Sep. 30, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA Inc.	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA	Dec. 31, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA	Jun. 23, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA	May 24, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA	May 23, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA At The Market Sales Agreement	Jun. 29, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA At The Market Sales Agreement	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA Subsequent Event At The Market Sales Agreement	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent's 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan
Common shares reserved for the exercise of stock options (shares)	978,550		11,000,000	6,000,000													5,192,527
Common shares authorized for issuance (shares)						1,000	1,000					1,000	1,000
Common shares issued (shares)	65,663,063				64,706,750	750	750	750	750	750		750
Preferred shares authorized for issuance (shares)						10,000,000	10,000,000					10,000,000
Preferred stock par value per share						$ 0.01	$ 0.01					$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares sold (shares)						3,946,950	1,364,543				646,295			3,946,950		4,304
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage (percentage)									8.625%
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share						$ 25	$ 25				$ 25
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and preference stock	$ 49,169,000	$ 16,855,000				$ 49,169,000	$ 16,855,000			$ 13,600,000				$ 49,200,000		$ 84,000
Preferred stock shares authorized to be sold in at the market sales agreement															3,400,000
Preferred stock shares issued during current period														2,582,407
Cumulative net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock														76,600,000
Period after change in control to redeem preferred stock (days)														90 days
Payments of dividends								$ (2,000,000)	$ (4,900,000)

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Long-Term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt

Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility

On October 28, 2009, Gastar USA, together with the other parties thereto, entered into an amended and restated credit facility (as amended and restated, the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility provided an initial borrowing base of $47.5 million, with borrowings bearing interest, at Gastar USA’s election, at the prime rate or LIBO rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable interest rate margin varies from 1.0% to 2.0% in the case of borrowings based on the prime rate and from 2.5% to 3.5% in the case of borrowings based on LIBO rate, depending on the utilization percentage in relation to the borrowing base. An annual commitment fee of 0.5% is payable quarterly based on the unutilized balance of the borrowing base. The Revolving Credit Facility had a scheduled maturity date of January 2, 2013.

The Revolving Credit Facility is guaranteed by Parent (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) and all of Gastar USA’s current domestic subsidiaries and all future domestic subsidiaries formed during the term of the Revolving Credit Facility. Borrowings and related guarantees are secured by a first priority lien on all domestic natural gas and oil properties currently owned by or later acquired by Gastar USA and its subsidiaries, excluding de minimus value properties as determined by the lender. The facility is secured by a first priority pledge of the stock of each domestic subsidiary, a first priority interest on all accounts receivable, notes receivable, inventory, contract rights, general intangibles and material property of the issuer and 65% of the stock of each foreign subsidiary of Gastar USA.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains various covenants, including among others:

• Restrictions on liens, incurrence of other indebtedness without lenders' consent and dividends and other restricted payments;

• Maintenance of a minimum consolidated current ratio as of the end of each quarter of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, as adjusted;

• Maintenance of a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA on a rolling four quarter basis, as adjusted, of not greater than 4.0 to 1.0; and

• Maintenance of an interest coverage ratio on a rolling four quarters basis, as adjusted, of EBITDA to interest expense, as of the end of each quarter, to be less than 2.5 to 1.0.

All outstanding amounts owed become due and payable upon the occurrence of certain usual and customary events of default, including among others:

• Failure to make payments;

• Non-performance of covenants and obligations continuing beyond any applicable grace period; and

• The occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) of the Parent.

Should there occur a Change in Control of Parent, then, five days after such occurrence, immediately and without notice, (i) all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility shall automatically become immediately due and payable and (ii) the commitments shall immediately cease and terminate unless and until reinstated by the lender in writing. If amounts outstanding become immediately due and payable, the obligation of Gastar USA with respect to any commodity hedge exposure shall be to provide cash as collateral to be held and administered by the lender as collateral agent.

On June 24, 2010, Gastar USA, together with the other parties thereto, entered into the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) amending that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 28, 2009 (as amended by that certain Consent and First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated November 20, 2009, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment (as defined below) and the Fourth Amendment (as defined below), the “Credit Agreement”) . The Second Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility, by, among other things, (i) allowing Gastar USA to hedge up to 80% of the proved developed producing (“PDP”) reserves reflected in its reserve report using hedging other than floors and protective spreads, (ii) allowing Gastar USA to present to the administrative agent a report showing any PDP additions resulting from new wells or the conversion of proved developed non-producing reserves to PDP reserves since the last reserve report in order to hedge the revised PDP reserves, and (iii) removing the limitations on hedging using floors and protective spreads.

On June 14, 2011, Gastar USA, together with the parties thereto, entered into the Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”). The Third Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility by, among other things, allowing Gastar USA to issue Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below) described in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements, Note 7 – Capital Stock” of this report and pay cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock of no more than $10.0 million in the aggregate in each calendar year and as long as payment of such dividends does not exceed 10% of the current availability under the then existing borrowing base.

On December 2, 2011, Gastar USA, together with the parties thereto, entered into the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, effective as of November 10, 2011 (the “Fourth Amendment”). The Fourth Amendment amended the Revolving Credit Facility, by, among other things, (i) extending the maturity date on borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility to September 30, 2015; (ii) allowing Gastar USA to hedge up to 100% of the PDP reserves reflected in its reserve report using hedging other than floors and protective spreads; and (iii) allowing no more than ten separate LIBO Rate Loans to be outstanding at one time.

Borrowing base redeterminations are scheduled semi-annually in May and November of each calendar year. Gastar USA and its lenders may request one additional unscheduled redetermination annually. As of December 31, 2011, the Revolving Credit Facility had a borrowing base of $50.0 million, with $30.0 million of borrowings outstanding and availability of $20.0 million. Gastar USA requested that the May 2012 redetermination be accelerated to March 2012. On March 5, 2012, Gastar USA was notified by its lenders that, effective immediately, the borrowing base was increased from $50.0 million to $100.0 million. Gastar USA requested that the November 2012 redetermination be accelerated to September 2012. On October 19, 2012, Gastar USA was notified by its lenders that, effective September 30, 2012, the borrowing base was increased from $100.0 million to $110.0 million. At September 30, 2012, the Revolving Credit Facility had a borrowing base of $110.0 million, with $70.0 million of borrowings outstanding and availability of $40.0 million. The next regularly scheduled redetermination is set for May 2013.

At September 30, 2012, Gastar USA was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Other Debt

Credit support for the Company’s open derivatives at September 30, 2012 is provided under the Revolving Credit Facility through inter-creditor agreements or open accounts of up to $5.0 million.

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Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd acre	Apr. 05, 2012 Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd	Nov. 04, 2005 Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd	Oct. 31, 2005 Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd	Dec. 31, 2011 Claim for recovery of gross proceeds of production Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd	Dec. 31, 2011 Claim for loss of hedging profits Navasota vs Gastar Exploration Texas, LP and Gastar Exploration Ltd	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsequent Event Chesapeake Exploration LLC and Chesapeake Energy Corporation vs Gastar Exploration Ltd, Gastar Exploration Texas LP, and Gastar Exploration Texas LLC
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value					$ 52.0	$ 32.0	$ 101.4
Amount paid by Chesapeake for the purchase of shares			76.0				76.0
Shares purchased by Chesapeake (shares)			5,500,000				5,430,329
Stock split, conversion ratio							5
Interest in natural gas and oil leases in Leon and Robertson Counties (percentage)				33.33%
Loss contingency settlement agreement consideration paid		1.3
Litigation settlement, gross	$ 1.5
Acres associated with oil and gas leases (acres)	3,200

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Property, Plant And Equipment (Average Sales Price and Production Costs Per Unit of Production) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Average price per Mcfe	3.69	4.59

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Property, Plant And Equipment (Schedule of Capitalized Costs of Unproved Properties Excluded from Amortization) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization
Drilling in progress costs	$ 3,155	$ 3,958
Acreage acquistion costs	67,590	68,217
Capitalized interest	4,209	6,127
Total unproved properties excluded from amortization	$ 74,954	$ 78,302

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Statement Of Cash Flows - Supplemental Information (Schedule of Supplemental Cash Paid and Non-cash Transactions) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash paid for interest	$ 1,280	$ 556
Other Noncash Items [Abstract]
Capital expenditures excluded from accounts payable and accrued drilling costs	724	(99)
Capital expenditures excluded from prepaid expenses	99	0
Asset retirement obligation included in natural gas and oil properties	229	486
Asset retirement obligation assigned to operator	(2,099)	0
Application of advances to operators	$ 5,848	$ 2,770

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Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 10, 2011	Mar. 05, 2011	Jun. 24, 2010	Oct. 28, 2009
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Percentage of dividend payments of the current availablity under the existing borrowing base	10.00%
Credit support for open derivatives, open account balance	$ 5.0
Gastar Exploration USA
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility borrowing base	110.0	50.0		100.0		47.5
Annual commitment fee (percentage)	0.50%
Percentage of stock foreign subsidiary pledged as collateral for credit facility (percentage)	65.00%
Line of credit facility covenant compliance EBITDA to Interest Expense Ratio on a four quarter rolling basis	2.5
Percentage of proved developed producing reserves hedged allowed under credit facility agreement (percentage)			100.00%		80.00%
Preferred stock participation rights aggregate limit of preferred stock dividends	10.0
Revolving Credit Facility amount outstanding	70.0	30.0
Revolving Credit Facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 40.0	$ 20.0
Gastar Exploration USA | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility covenant compliance Current Ratio	1
Gastar Exploration USA | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility covenant compliance indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio	4
Gastar Exploration USA | Prime Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate description	prime rate
Applicable interest rate margin minimum (percentage)	1.00%
Applicable interest rate margin maximum (percentage)	2.00%
Gastar Exploration USA | LIBO Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate description	LIBO
Applicable interest rate margin minimum (percentage)	2.50%
Applicable interest rate margin maximum (percentage)	3.50%

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Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) (East Texas, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
East Texas
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Reclassification of unproved properties to proved properties	$ 19.1

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Property, Plant And Equipment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

The amount capitalized as natural gas and oil properties was incurred for the purchase and development of various properties in the U.S., specifically the states of Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming and Montana and the Mid-Continent area. The Company's working interest in its Wyoming and Montana properties in the Powder River Basin were assigned to the operator on May 3, 2012, effective January 1, 2012.

The following table summarizes the components of unproved properties excluded from amortization for the periods indicated:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization:
Drilling in progress costs	$	3,155	$	3,958
Acreage acquisition costs	67,590		68,217
Capitalized interest	4,209		6,127
Total unproved properties excluded from amortization	$	74,954	$	78,302

For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, management's evaluation of unproved properties resulted in an impairment. Due to a decline in natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in East Texas, the Company reclassified $19.1 million of unproved properties to proved properties at September 30, 2012.

The full cost method of accounting for natural gas and oil properties requires a quarterly calculation of a limitation on capitalized costs, often referred to as a full cost ceiling calculation. The ceiling is the present value of estimated future cash flow from proved natural gas and oil reserves reduced by future operating expenses, development expenditures, abandonment costs (net of salvage) to the extent not included in natural gas and oil properties pursuant to authoritative guidance and estimated future income taxes thereon. To the extent that our capitalized costs (net of accumulated depletion and deferred taxes) exceed the ceiling, the excess must be written off to expense. Once incurred, this impairment of natural gas and oil properties is not reversible at a later date even if natural gas and oil prices increase. The ceiling calculation dictates that the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month prices and costs in effect are held constant indefinitely.

Management’s ceiling test evaluation for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 resulted in an impairment of proved natural gas and oil properties of $150.8 million recorded at September 30, 2012. Management's ceiling test evaluation for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 did not result in an impairment of proved natural gas and oil properties. The following table provides the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the equivalent realized price utilized in the ceiling testevaluations for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Average price per Mcfe	$	3.69	$	4.59

Given the current price environment, the Company expects that future declines in the 12-month average of natural gas, oil and NGLs prices will likely result in the recognition of future ceiling impairments in 2012.

Atinum Joint Venture

In September 2010, Gastar USA entered into a joint venture (the “Atinum Joint Venture”) pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement with an affiliate of Atinum Partners Co., Ltd. (“Atinum”), a Korean investment firm. Pursuant to the agreement, at the closing of the transactions on November 1, 2010, Gastar USA assigned to Atinum an initial 21.43% interest in all of its existing Marcellus Shale assets in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, which consisted of approximately 37,600 gross (34,200 net) acres and a 50% working interest in 16 producing shallow conventional wells and one non-producing vertical Marcellus Shale well (the “Atinum Joint Venture Assets”). Atinum paid Gastar USA approximately $30.0 million in cash at the closing and paid additional $40.0 million of Gastar USA's share of drilling costs over time in the form of a “drilling carry.” Upon completion of the funding of the drilling carry, Gastar USA made additional assignments to Atinum in early 2012 as a result of which Atinum owns a 50% interest in the Atinum Joint Venture Assets. The terms of the drilling carry required Atinum to fund its ultimate 50% share of drilling, completion and infrastructure costs along with 75% of Gastar USA’s ultimate 50% share of those same costs until the $40.0 million drilling carry had been satisfied. As of December 31, 2011, Atinum had completed the funding of the $40.0 million drilling carry. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, Atinum funds only its 50% share of costs.

The Atinum Joint Venture is pursuing an initial three-year development program that calls for the partners to drill a minimum of 12 horizontal wells in 2011 and 24 operated horizontal wells in each of 2012 and 2013, respectively. Due to recent natural gas price declines, Atinum and Gastar USA agreed to reduce the 2012 minimum wells to be drilled requirement from 24 wells to 20 wells. As of September 30, 2012, 35 operated wells were drilled and cased under the Atinum Joint Venture. Subsequent to June 30, 2011, an AMI was established for additional acreage acquisitions in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, excluding the counties of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph and Tucker, West Virginia. Within this AMI, Gastar USA acts as operator and is obligated to offer any future lease acquisitions within the AMI to Atinum on a 50/50 basis, and Atinum will pay Gastar USA on an annual basis an amount equal to 10% of lease bonuses and third party leasing costs up to $20.0 million and 5% of such costs on activities above $20.0 million.

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Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 9,103	$ 10,647	$ 6,968	$ 7,439
Restricted cash	0	50
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Assets, Commodity derivative contracts	14,131	23,515
Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Liabilities, Commodity derivative contracts	(5,030)	(7,642)
Total	18,204	26,570
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Assets, Commodity derivative contracts	0	0
Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Liabilities, Commodity derivative contracts	0	0
Total	9,103	10,697
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Assets, Commodity derivative contracts	0	0
Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Liabilities, Commodity derivative contracts	0	0
Total	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Assets, Commodity derivative contracts	14,131	23,515
Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Liabilities, Commodity derivative contracts	(5,030)	(7,642)
Total	9,101	15,873
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash	9,103	10,647
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash		10,647
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash	0	0
Restricted Cash | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash		50
Restricted Cash | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash		50
Restricted Cash | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash		0
Restricted Cash | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Derivative Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash		$ 0

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Interest Expense (Schedule of Components of Interest Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Expense [Abstract]
Cash and accrued	$ 549	$ 180	$ 1,272	$ 559
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	60	65	157	193
Capitalized interest	(579)	(221)	(1,343)	(665)
Total interest expense	$ 30	$ 24	$ 86	$ 87

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 9,103	$ 10,647
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $546 and $551, respectively	8,277	10,706
Commodity derivative contracts	11,446	19,385
Prepaid expenses	799	1,243
Total current assets	29,625	41,981
Natural gas and oil properties, full cost method of accounting:
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization	74,954	78,302
Proved properties	623,112	514,357
Total natural gas and oil properties	698,066	592,659
Furniture and equipment	1,864	1,629
Total property, plant and equipment	699,930	594,288
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(479,079)	(308,548)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	220,851	285,740
OTHER ASSETS:
Restricted cash	0	50
Commodity derivative contracts	2,685	4,130
Deferred charges, net	709	535
Advances to operators and other assets	501	2,067
Total other assets	3,895	6,782
TOTAL ASSETS	254,371	334,503
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	11,720	17,693
Revenue payable	8,811	4,137
Accrued interest	136	144
Accrued drilling and operating costs	6,923	4,647
Advances from non-operators	18,438	19,523
Commodity derivative contracts	2,578	6,479
Commodity derivative premium payable	1,414	4,725
Accrued litigation settlement liability	0	800
Other accrued liabilities	2,407	1,723
Total current liabilities	52,427	59,871
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	70,000	30,000
Commodity derivative contracts	2,452	1,163
Asset retirement obligation	6,689	8,275
Total long-term liabilities	79,141	39,438
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	316,346	316,346
Additional paid-in capital	27,618	25,376
Accumulated deficit	(297,721)	(133,919)
Total shareholders’ equity	46,243	207,803
Non-controlling interest:
Preferred stock of subsidiary, aggregate liquidation preference $84,683 and $34,114 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	76,560	27,391
Total equity	122,803	235,194
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	254,371	334,503
Gastar Exploration USA Inc.
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,009	10,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $546 and $551, respectively	8,276	10,703
Commodity derivative contracts	11,446	19,385
Prepaid expenses	774	1,088
Total current assets	29,505	41,771
Natural gas and oil properties, full cost method of accounting:
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization	74,954	78,302
Proved properties	623,104	514,349
Total natural gas and oil properties	698,058	592,651
Furniture and equipment	1,864	1,629
Total property, plant and equipment	699,922	594,280
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	(479,072)	(308,541)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	220,850	285,739
OTHER ASSETS:
Restricted cash	0	25
Commodity derivative contracts	2,685	4,130
Deferred charges, net	709	535
Advances to operators and other assets	501	2,067
Total other assets	3,895	6,757
TOTAL ASSETS	254,250	334,267
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	11,695	17,682
Revenue payable	8,811	4,137
Accrued interest	136	144
Accrued drilling and operating costs	6,923	4,647
Advances from non-operators	18,438	19,523
Commodity derivative contracts	2,578	6,479
Commodity derivative premium payable	1,414	4,725
Accrued litigation settlement liability	0	800
Other accrued liabilities	2,180	1,654
Total current liabilities	52,175	59,791
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	70,000	30,000
Commodity derivative contracts	2,452	1,163
Asset retirement obligation	6,682	8,268
Due to parent	30,810	27,432
Total long-term liabilities	109,944	66,863
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	39	14
Common stock	237,431	239,431
Additional paid-in capital	76,521	27,377
Accumulated deficit	(221,860)	(59,209)
Total shareholders’ equity	92,131	207,613
Non-controlling interest:
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 254,250	$ 334,267

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Description Of Business

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of business

Description of Business

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States (“U.S.”). Gastar Exploration Ltd.’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 Exploration Ltd. is currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale play in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Gastar Exploration Ltd. also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in East Texas and in the Mid-Continent area of the U.S.

Gastar Exploration Ltd. is a holding company and substantially all of its operations are conducted through, and substantially all of its assets are held by, its primary operating subsidiary, Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, all references in these notes to “Gastar USA” refer collectively to Gastar Exploration USA, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, all references to “Parent” refer solely to Gastar Exploration Ltd., and all references to “Gastar,” the “Company” and similar terms refer collectively to Gastar Exploration Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Gastar Exploration USA, Inc.

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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity (Schedule of Notional Amounts and Wieghted Average Underlying Hedge Prices of Outstanding Derivative Positions) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 MMBTU
Natural Gas | 2012 | Put spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	16,566
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	1,524,040
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	6.00
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	4.00
Natural Gas | 2012 | Costless three way collar
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	7,391
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	679,960
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	5.73
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	4.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	6.88
Natural Gas | 2012 | Call spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	2,000
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	184,000
Call (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	4.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	4.50
Natural Gas | 2012 | Basis HSC
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	5,000	[1]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	460,000	[1]
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	(0.08)	[1]
Natural Gas | 2013 | Costless three way collar
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	2,500
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	912,500
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	5.00
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	4.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	6.45
Natural Gas | 2013 | Call spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	2,500
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	912,500
Call (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	4.75
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	5.25
Natural Gas | 2013 | Basis HSC
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	4,000	[1]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	1,460,000	[1]
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	(0.11)	[1]
Natural Gas | 2014 | Short calls
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	2,500
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	912,500
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	6.00
Crude Oil | 2012 | Fixed price swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	600	[2]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	55,200
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	102.01
Crude Oil | 2013 | Put spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	400	[2]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	146,000
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	100.75
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	70.00
Crude Oil | 2014 | Costless three way collar
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	200	[2]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	73,000
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	90.00
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	70.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	106.20
Natural Gas Liquids | 2012 | Fixed price swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	250
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	23,000
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	49.59
Natural Gas Liquids | 2013 | Fixed price swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	175
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	63,750
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	42.06
Protective Spread 1 | Natural Gas | 2013 | Protective spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	8,000
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	2,920,000
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	4.91
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	3.23
Protective Spread 2 | Natural Gas | 2013 | Protective spread
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	4,025	[3]
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	853,200	[3]
Base Fixed Price (Price per MMbtu or Bbl)	3.70	[3]
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	3.00	[3]
Costless Three Way Collar 1 | Natural Gas | 2014 | Costless three way collar
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	3,000
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	1,095,000
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	4.00
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	3.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	4.36
Costless Three Way Collar 2 | Natural Gas | 2014 | Costless three way collar
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Daily Volume (MMBtus or Bbls)	5,000
Total of Notional Volume (MMBtu's or Bbls)	1,825,000
Floor (Long) (Price per MMBtu)	3.75
Short Put (Price per MMBtu)	3.00
Ceiling (Short) (Price per MMBtu)	4.55

[1] East Houston-Katy - Houston Ship Channel

[2] Crude volumes hedged include oil, condensate and certain components of our NGLs production.

[3] For the period January to July 2013

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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule of Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location

The tables below provide information on the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position and derivative gains and losses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments:

	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Derivative Assets (Liabilities)
		Fair Value
	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Current assets	$	11,446		$	19,385
Commodity derivative contracts	Other assets	2,685			4,130
Commodity derivative contracts	Current liabilities	(2,578		)	(6,479		)
Commodity derivative contracts	Long-term liabilities	(2,452		)	(1,163		)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	9,101		$	15,873
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Three Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	3,358		$	2,389
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(5,403		)	2,424
Total		$	(2,045	)	$	4,813
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Nine Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	8,717		$	6,569
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(4,123		)	1,027
Total		$	4,594		$	7,596

Natural Gas

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions

As of September 30, 2012, the following natural gas derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price			Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in MMBtu's)
2012	Put spread	16,566	1,524,040	$	—		$	6.00	$	4.00	$	—	$	—
2012	Costless three-way collar	7,391	679,960	—			5.73		4.00		—		6.88
2012	Call spread	2,000	184,000	—			—		—		4.00		4.50
2012	Basis - HSC (1)	5,000	460,000	(0.08		)	—		—		—		—
2013	Call spread	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		4.75		5.25
2013	Costless three-way collar	2,500	912,500	—			5.00		4.00		—		6.45
2013	Protective spread	8,000	2,920,000	4.91			—		3.23		—		—
2013 (2)	Protective spread	4,025	853,200	3.70			—		3.00		—		—
2013	Basis - HSC (1)	4,000	1,460,000	(0.11		)	—		—		—		—
2014	Short calls	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		—		6.00
2014	Costless three-way collar	3,000	1,095,000	—			4.00		3.00		—		4.36
2014	Costless three-way collar	5,000	1,825,000	—			3.75		3.00		—		4.55

 _______________________________

(1) East Houston-Katy - Houston Ship Channel

(2) For the period January to July 2013

Crude Oil

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions

As of September 30, 2012, the following crude derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume (1)	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	600	55,200	$	102.01	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Put spread	400	146,000	—		100.75		70.00		—		—
2014	Costless three-way collar	200	73,000	—		90.00		70.00		—		106.20

 _______________________________

(1) Crude volumes hedged include oil, condensate and certain components of our NGLs production.

Natural Gas Liquids

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions

As of September 30, 2012, the following NGLs derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	250	23,000	$	49.59	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Fixed price swap	175	63,750	42.06		—		—		—		—

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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity (Schedule of Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts	$ 11,446		$ 11,446		$ 19,385
Commodity derivative contracts	2,685		2,685		4,130
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	9,101		9,101		15,873
Amount of Gain/ (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	(2,045)	4,813	4,594	7,596
Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Amount of Gain/ (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	3,358	2,389	8,717	6,569
Unrealized hedge gain (loss)
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Amount of Gain/ (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	(5,403)	2,424	(4,123)	1,027
Current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts, Assets					19,385
Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts, Assets					4,130
Current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts, Liabilities	(2,578)		(2,578)		(6,479)
Long-term liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts, Liabilities	$ (2,452)		$ (2,452)		$ (1,163)

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Interest Expense (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Interest Expense [Abstract]

Schedule Of Components Of Interest Expense

The following table summarizes the components of interest expense for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Interest expense:
Cash and accrued	$	549		$	180		$	1,272		$	559
Amortization of deferred financing costs	60			65			157			193
Capitalized interest	(579		)	(221		)	(1,343		)	(665		)
Total interest expense	$	30		$	24		$	86		$	87

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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC. Please refer to the notes to the financial statements included in the 2011 Form 10-K for additional details of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. All material items included in those notes have not changed except as a result of normal transactions in the interim or as disclosed within this report.

These financial statements are a combined presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and Gastar USA. Separate information is provided for the Company and Gastar USA as required. Except as otherwise noted, there are no material differences between the unaudited condensed consolidated information for the Company presented herein and the unaudited condensed consolidated information of Gastar USA.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and Gastar USA included herein are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted and were prepared from the records of the Company and Gastar USA by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to interim financial statements and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair presentation of the results of operations and financial position for the interim periods. Such financial statements conform to the presentation reflected in the 2011 Form 10-K. The current interim period reported herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes, including Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the 2011 Form 10-K.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the estimate of proved natural gas and oil reserve quantities and the related present value of estimated future net cash flows.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Parent and the consolidated accounts of all of its subsidiaries, including Gastar USA. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Gastar USA include the accounts of Gastar USA and the consolidated accounts of all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain reclassifications of prior year balances have been made to conform to the current year presentation; these reclassifications have no impact on net income (loss).

The results of operations for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued and has disclosed certain subsequent events in these condensed consolidated financial statements, as appropriate.

Recent Accounting Developments

The following recently issued accounting pronouncements have been adopted or may impact the Company in future periods:

Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to previously issued guidance regarding the reporting and presentation of other comprehensive income. The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income and the total of comprehensive income. Regardless of whether an entity chooses to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements, the entity is required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. Earlier application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not impact our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurement. In May 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to previously issued guidance regarding fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The amendments explain how to measure fair value and do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The amendments result in common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not impact our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Gastar Exploration USA Inc.	Sep. 30, 2011 Gastar Exploration USA Inc.
Accounts receivable, doubtful accounts	$ 546	$ 551	$ 546	$ 551
Common stock, par value	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized	unlimited	unlimited
Common stock, shares issued	65,663,063	64,706,750	750	750
Common stock, shares outstanding	65,663,063	64,706,750	750	750
Preferred stock of subsidiary, aggregate liquidation preference	$ 98,674	$ 34,114
Preferred stock, par value			$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized			10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued			3,946,950	1,364,543
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding			3,946,950	1,364,543
Common stock, shares authorized			1,000	1,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share			$ 25	$ 25

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Commitments And Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Chesapeake Exploration L.L.C. (“Chesapeake Exploration”) and Chesapeake Energy Corp.  (“Chesapeake Energy”) v. Gastar Exploration Ltd., Gastar Exploration Texas, LP, and Gastar Exploration Texas, LLC (No. 4:12-cv-2922), United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.  This lawsuit, filed on October 1, 2012, re-asserts the same claims for rescission of the November 2005 Agreements (as defined below) and for recovery of amounts paid under those agreements that Chesapeake Exploration and Chesapeake Energy (collectively, “Chesapeake”) previously asserted in the cross-action filed against the Company in the Navasota litigation described below, as previously disclosed in the Company's filings. In March 2011, Chesapeake dismissed its cross-claims against the Company in the Navasota litigation, without prejudice to their re-filing. In this new lawsuit, Chesapeake re-asserts those claims, seeking rescission of (a) a Purchase and Sale and Exploration and Development Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”), relating to properties in the Hilltop Prospect in Texas, (b) an Exploration and Development Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership, (c) a Common Share Purchase Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Energy, and (d) a Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Chesapeake Energy, all effective as of November 4, 2005 (collectively, “the November 2005 Agreements”), based on an alleged “mutual mistake” and alleged failure of consideration.  Chesapeake alleges that the parties to the November 2005 Agreements believed that the Gastar defendants had the right to convey to Chesapeake Exploration the properties that were the subject of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, notwithstanding the exercise by Navasota Resources LP (“Navasota”) of a preferential right to purchase the interest in the Hilltop Prospect properties. The dispute over the validity of Navasota's exercise of its preferential right to purchase was the subject of litigation filed by Navasota prior to the execution of the November 2005 Agreements.  Chesapeake claims that the Texas Court of Appeals' subsequent ruling in that litigation upholding the validity of Navasota's exercise of the preferential right to purchase establishes that there was a mutual mistake of fact and a failure of consideration with regard to the November 2005 Agreements. In the alternative, Chesapeake claims that the Gastar defendants have been unjustly enriched at the expense of Chesapeake by the funds paid by Chesapeake to the Gastar defendants. In their complaint filed in the lawsuit, Chesapeake offers to return Parent's common shares purchased pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, and seeks restitution from the Gastar defendants of the net amount of approximately $101.4 million, which includes the $76.0 million that Chesapeake Energy paid for Parent's common shares (now 5,430,329 shares after a 1:5 stock split) that Chesapeake Energy purchased in 2005 and now seeks to return.  In a motion to compel arbitration filed by Chesapeake on October 24, 2012, Chesapeake has asked the court to order arbitration of the claims asserted in the complaint pursuant to an arbitration clause in the Common Share Purchase Agreement.

The Gastar defendants contend that the claims fail as a matter of law and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.  Specifically, the Gastar defendants contend that all facts relating to the Navasota claim were fully known to the parties at the time of execution of the November 2005 Agreements, and the parties expressly agreed in the Purchase and Sale Agreement that Chesapeake Exploration would take title to the properties subject to Navasota's claim and would convey the properties to Navasota in the event Navasota prevailed in the litigation, precluding Chesapeake's claims for rescission of the November 2005 Agreements.  For the same reasons, the Gastar defendants also contend that Chesapeake received all of the consideration that the November 2005 Agreements called for and that there was no failure of consideration.  With regard to Chesapeake's alternative unjust enrichment claim, the Gastar defendants contend that it is barred by the two-year statute of limitations and that in any event, it fails for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the parties' agreements address the subject matter of the dispute (precluding a claim for unjust enrichment) and the fact that the Gastar defendants were not unjustly enriched by Chesapeake Exploration's payment of the share of costs attributable to an interest in the properties that was not owned by the Gastar defendants.   The Gastar defendants also contend that Chesapeake's claims are not subject to arbitration and that the claims should be resolved on the merits by the federal court in which Chesapeake filed the lawsuit.

No specific loss or range of loss can be estimated as at least reasonably possible within the amounts claimed by Chesapeake. As of September 30, 2012, no accrual has been recorded as management believes a future adverse outcome is not probable.

Navasota Resources L.P. vs. First Source Texas, Inc., First Source Gas L.P. (now Gastar Exploration Texas, LP) and Gastar Exploration Ltd. (Cause No. 0-05-451) District Court of Leon County, Texas12th Judicial District. This lawsuit, dated October 31, 2005, contended that the Company breached Navasota’s preferential right to purchase 33.33% of the Company’s interest in certain natural gas and oil leases located in Leon and Robertson Counties, which were sold to Chesapeake on November 4, 2005 (the “2005 Transaction”). The preferential right claimed that was the subject of the lawsuit is under an operating agreement dated July 7, 2000. The Company contended, among other things, that Navasota neither properly nor timely exercised any preferential right election it may have had with respect to the 2005 Transaction. In July 2006, the District Court of Leon County, Texas issued a summary judgment in favor of the Company and Chesapeake. Navasota filed a Notice of Appeal to the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco. Oral argument was heard on September 26, 2007 and the Court of Appeals issued its opinion on January 9, 2008 reversing the trial court’s rulings, rendering judgment in favor of Navasota on its claims for breach of contract and specific performance, and remanding the case for further proceedings on Navasota’s other counts, which included claims for suit to quiet title, trespass to try title, tortuous interference with contract, conversion, money had and received, breach of contract and declaratory relief. The Company and Chesapeake filed a motion for rehearing on February 6, 2008, which was denied on March18, 2008. The Company and Chesapeake filed a joint Petition for Review in the Texas Supreme Court on May 13, 2008. On August 28, 2008, the Texas Supreme Court requested briefing on the merits. On January 9, 2009, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Petition for Review. On January 26, 2009, the Company and Chesapeake jointly filed a motion for rehearing in the Texas Supreme Court on its denial of the Petition for Review. On April 24, 2009, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Petition for Review.

Pursuant to a provision in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, between the Company and Chesapeake, Chesapeake acknowledged the existence of the Navasota lawsuit and claims and further agreed that if Navasota were to prevail on its claims, that Chesapeake would convey the affected interests it purchased from the Company to Navasota upon receipt of the purchase price and/or other consideration paid by Navasota. Therefore, the Company believes that Navasota’s exercise of its rights of specific performance should impact only Chesapeake’s assigned leasehold interests. However, in December 2008, Chesapeake stated to the Company that if the Texas Supreme Court were not to reverse the decision of the Tenth Court of Appeals, Chesapeake would seek rescission of the 2005 Transaction and restitution of consideration paid, indicating that Chesapeake might assert such rescission and restitution as to the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Common Share Purchase Agreement. Chesapeake did not identify particular sums as to which it might seek restitution, but amounts paid to the Company in connection with the 2005 Transaction could be asserted to include the $76.0 million paid by Chesapeake for the purchase of 5.5 million common shares as part of the 2005 Transaction and/or other amounts. Chesapeake amended its answer to include cross-claims and counterclaims, including a claim for rescission.

On or about June 9, 2009, Navasota filed and served its Fourth Amended Petition, essentially re-pleading its previously-asserted claims against the Company and Chesapeake. Navasota exercised its rights of specific performance, and Chesapeake assigned leases to Navasota in July 2009. In March 2011, Chesapeake dismissed the cross-claims against the Company, including the claim for rescission, without prejudice to the subsequent refiling of those claims. On April 12, 2011, Navasota filed its Fifth Amended Petition. The Fifth Amended Petition added a new claim that the Company allegedly refused to offer Navasota interests in oil and gas leases located within an area of mutual interest, failed to assign Navasota overriding royalty interests, and failed to recognize back-in-after-payout interests. On September 2, 2011, Navasota filed its Sixth Amended Petition. The Sixth Amended Petition added a new claim that the Company allegedly further violated Navasota’s preferential right under the July 7, 2000 operating agreement to the extent the Company sold any other interests in oil and gas leases located in an area of mutual interest without offering them to Navasota. The Sixth Amended Petition also added a claim that the Company violated the Texas Natural Resource Code sections 402 and 403 by failing to pay production proceeds to Navasota.

The claims for monetary damages that Navasota asserted against the Company are as follows:

1. A claim for recovery of the gross proceeds of production for the period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties, in the approximate amount of $52.0 million.

2. A claim for alleged lost hedging profits that Navasota claims that would have been realized if it had title to the properties during the period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties, in the approximate amount of $32.0 million.

The Company believed that these claims against the Company were invalid and that Navasota was not entitled to any recovery on its claims for monetary damages. In particular, the Company believed that by virtue of the costs incurred in connection with the properties during the time period that Chesapeake owned record title to the properties compared to amount reimbursed by Navasota to Chesapeake to date, Navasota was in a better position economically than it would have been in had the assignments to Navasota been made in November 2005. The Company also believed that the claim that Navasota would have earned hedging profits if it had received the assignments in November 2005 was both legally invalid and factually wrong based on the undisputed evidence.

The case was set for trial in Leon County, Texas on April 24, 2012. The Company attended court-mandated mediation on April 5, 2012, and at the mediation, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Navasota. Under the terms of the settlement, Gastar Exploration Texas, LP agreed to pay the sum of $1.3 million to Navasota, Navasota gave a full release of claims to the Company, and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP agreed to offer Navasota the opportunity to acquire one-third (1/3) of Gastar Exploration Texas, LP's current working interest in each oil and gas lease that meets both of the following criteria: (a) Gastar Exploration Texas, LP acquired the lease or an interest in the lease after October 30, 2005 in the AMI that is the subject of the Joint Operating Agreement dated July 7, 2000 covering the Hilltop Prospect to which Navasota and Gastar Exploration Texas, LP are currently parties, and (b) none of the Gastar Defendants (or any of their affiliates) and none of the Chesapeake Defendants (or any of their affiliates) have conveyed a working interest therein to Navasota as of the date of this settlement agreement. The settlement agreement provides for the payment by Navasota of its share of lease acquisition costs for any leases in which it elects to acquire an interest and for an accounting of revenues and costs for any wells drilled on leases in which Navasota elects to acquire an interest. Pursuant to the settlement, Gastar Exploration Texas, LP made the offer for acquisition of certain leasehold interests to Navasota in early May 2012, and in early June 2012, Navasota exercised its election to acquire interests in all of the leases offered pursuant to the settlement agreement. Navasota has paid Gastar Exploration Texas, LP approximately $1.5 million in leasehold reimbursement and received an assignment of approximately 3,200 net acres. Gastar Exploration Texas, LP has paid the $1.3 million of settlement funds to Navasota, and Navasota has dismissed its claims against the Company with prejudice.

The settlement of the Navasota lawsuit did not materially impact the Company's operating results, financial position or cash flows.

The Company has been expensing legal defense costs on these proceedings as they are incurred.

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. The ultimate outcome of each of these matters cannot be absolutely determined, and the liability the Company may ultimately incur with respect to any one of these matters in the event of a negative outcome may be in excess of amounts currently accrued for with respect to such matters. Net of available insurance and performance of contractual defense and indemnity obligations, where applicable, management does not believe any such matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD
Entity Central Index Key	0001170154
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		65,663,063
Gastar Exploration USA Inc.
Entity Registrant Name	GASTAR EXPLORATION USA, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001431372
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		750

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Statement Of Cash Flows - Supplemental Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]

Statement Of Cash Flows - Supplemental Information

Statement of Cash Flows – Supplemental Information

The following is a summary of the supplemental cash paid and non-cash transactions for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	1,280		$	556
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures excluded from accounts payable and accrued drilling costs	724			(99		)
Capital expenditures excluded from prepaid expenses	99			—
Asset retirement obligation included in natural gas and oil properties	229			486
Asset retirement obligation assigned to operator	(2,099		)	—
Application of advances to operators	5,848			2,770

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Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUES:
Natural gas	$ 8,906	$ 8,613	$ 22,499	$ 25,184
Oil	3,457	736	7,748	2,707
NGLs	2,483	239	6,394	239
Total natural gas, oil and NGL revenues	14,846	9,588	36,641	28,130
Unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss)	(5,403)	2,424	(4,123)	1,027
Total revenues	9,443	12,012	32,518	29,157
EXPENSES:
Production taxes	560	157	1,494	384
Lease operating expenses	780	2,363	4,754	5,945
Transportation, treating and gathering	1,305	1,128	3,715	3,354
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	7,135	3,694	19,744	10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054	0	150,787	0
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	101	138	284	392
General and administrative expense	2,951	3,100	9,263	8,576
Litigation settlement expense	0	0	1,250	0
Total expenses	90,886	10,580	191,291	29,448
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(81,443)	1,432	(158,773)	(291)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(30)	(24)	(86)	(87)
Investment income and other	2	2	6	7
Foreign transaction gain (loss)	(2)	(8)	(2)	(5)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	(81,473)	1,402	(158,855)	(376)
Provision for income tax benefit	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(81,473)	1,402	(158,855)	(376)
Dividend on preferred stock attributable to non-controlling interest	1,984	388	4,947	419
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.	(83,457)	1,014	(163,802)	(795)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD. COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.31)	$ 0.02	$ (2.58)	$ (0.01)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.31)	$ 0.02	$ (2.58)	$ (0.01)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (shares)	63,601,645	63,238,069	63,494,224	62,901,860
Diluted (shares)	63,601,645	63,842,098	63,494,224	62,901,860
Gastar Exploration USA Inc.
REVENUES:
Natural gas	8,906	8,613	22,499	25,184
Oil	3,457	736	7,748	2,707
NGLs	2,483	239	6,394	239
Total natural gas, oil and NGL revenues	14,846	9,588	36,641	28,130
Unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss)	(5,403)	2,424	(4,123)	1,027
Total revenues	9,443	12,012	32,518	29,157
EXPENSES:
Production taxes	560	157	1,494	384
Lease operating expenses	780	2,363	4,754	5,944
Transportation, treating and gathering	1,305	1,128	3,715	3,354
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	7,135	3,694	19,744	10,797
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054	0	150,787	0
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	101	138	284	392
General and administrative expense	2,481	2,879	8,105	7,992
Litigation settlement expense	0	0	1,250	0
Total expenses	90,416	10,359	190,133	28,863
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(80,973)	1,653	(157,615)	294
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(30)	(24)	(87)	(86)
Investment income and other	(5)	(1)	(4)	96
Foreign transaction gain (loss)	1	(5)	2	(2)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	(81,007)	1,623	(157,704)	302
Provision for income tax benefit	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(81,007)	1,623	(157,704)	302
Dividend on preferred stock	1,984	388	4,947	419
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.	$ (82,991)	$ 1,235	$ (162,651)	$ (117)

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Capital Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Capital Stock

7. Capital Stock

Other Share Issuances

The following table provides information regarding the issuances and forfeitures of Parent’s common shares pursuant to Parent’s 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Other share issuances:
Restricted common shares granted	—	1,116,935
Restricted common shares vested	127,250	496,299
Stock options exercised	—	3,000
Common shares forfeited (1)	34,111	139,101
Common shares canceled	26,195	26,871

 __________________

(1) Represents common shares forfeited in connection with the payment of estimated withholding taxes on restricted common shares that vested and with the payment of the exercise price and estimated withholding taxes on option exercises during the period.

On June 7, 2012, Parent's shareholders voted to approve the Second Amendment to Parent's 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. This amendment, effective June 3, 2012, increased the total number of shares available for issuance under the plan from 6,000,000 shares to 11,000,000 shares. There were 5,192,527 shares available for issuance under the Parent's 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan at September 30, 2012.

Shares Reserved

At September 30, 2012, Parent had 978,550 common shares reserved for the exercise of stock options.

Gastar USA Common Stock

Prior to its conversion, as described below, Gastar USA’s articles of incorporation allowed Gastar USA to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, without par value. There were 750 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of which were held by Parent.

On May 24, 2011, Gastar USA converted from a Michigan corporation to a Delaware corporation (the “Conversion”). Following the Conversion, Gastar USA’s new Delaware certificate of incorporation allows Gastar USA to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, without par value. In connection with the Conversion, the Parent’s 750 shares of common stock in the Michigan corporation were converted to 750 shares of common stock in the new Gastar USA Delaware corporation.

Gastar USA Preferred Stock

Prior to the Conversion, Gastar USA’s articles of incorporation did not authorize issuance of preferred stock.

Following the Conversion, Gastar USA’s new Delaware certificate of incorporation allows Gastar USA to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with $0.01 par value. The preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Gastar USA’s Board of Directors (the “Gastar USA Board”) is authorized to fix the number of shares of any series of preferred stock and to determine the designation of any such series. The Gastar USA Board is also authorized to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of preferred stock and, within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Gastar USA Board originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issues shares of that series).

On June 23, 2011, Gastar USA sold an aggregate of 646,295 shares of its 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share and liquidation preference $25.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) through a best efforts underwritten public offering. The net proceeds to Gastar USA were approximately $13.6 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses.

On June 29, 2011, Gastar USA entered into an at-the-market sales agreement (“ATM Agreement”) with McNicoll, Lewis & Vlak LLC (“MLV”). According to the provisions of the ATM agreement, Gastar USA may offer and sell from time to time up to 3,400,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock through MLV, as its sales agent. Sales of the units will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE at market prices, in block transactions or as otherwise agreed between Gastar USA and MLV.

For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, Gastar USA sold 2,582,407 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $49.2 million, resulting in 3,946,950 total shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued for net proceeds of $76.6 million at September 30, 2012. From October 1, 2012 to November 5, 2012, Gastar USA sold an additional 4,304 shares of Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of $84,000.

The Series A Preferred Stock is subordinated to all of Gastar USA’s existing and future debt and all future capital stock designated as senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Parent has entered into a guarantee agreement, whereby it will fully and unconditionally guarantee the payment of dividends that have been declared by the board of directors of Gastar USA, amounts payable upon redemption or liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and any other amounts due with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, to the extent described in the guarantee agreement. Parent’s obligations with respect to the guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all of its existing and future debt.

The Series A Preferred Stock cannot be converted into common stock of Gastar USA or the Company, but may be redeemed by Gastar USA, at Gastar USA’s option, on or after June 23, 2014 for $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends or in certain circumstances prior to such date as a result of a change in control. Following a change in control, Gastar USA will have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days after the date on which the change in control occurs, for cash at the following prices per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared), up to the redemption date:

Redemption Date	Redemption Price
On or after June 23, 2012 and prior to June 23, 2013	$	25.50
On or after June 23, 2013 and prior to June 23, 2014	$	25.25
On or after June 23, 2014	$	25.00

Gastar USA will pay cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock at a fixed rate of 8.625% per annum of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, Gastar USA paid dividends of $2.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively.

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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

The Company maintains a commodity price risk management strategy that uses derivative instruments to minimize significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in commodity prices. The Company uses costless collars, index, basis and fixed price swaps and put and call options to hedge natural gas, oil and NGLs price risk.

All derivative contracts are carried at their fair value on the balance sheet and all unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the statement of operations in unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss), while realized gains and losses related to contract settlements are recognized in natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported unrealized losses of $5.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statement of operations related to the change in the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company reported unrealized gains of $2.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statement of operations related to the change in the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments.

As of September 30, 2012, the following natural gas derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price			Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in MMBtu's)
2012	Put spread	16,566	1,524,040	$	—		$	6.00	$	4.00	$	—	$	—
2012	Costless three-way collar	7,391	679,960	—			5.73		4.00		—		6.88
2012	Call spread	2,000	184,000	—			—		—		4.00		4.50
2012	Basis - HSC (1)	5,000	460,000	(0.08		)	—		—		—		—
2013	Call spread	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		4.75		5.25
2013	Costless three-way collar	2,500	912,500	—			5.00		4.00		—		6.45
2013	Protective spread	8,000	2,920,000	4.91			—		3.23		—		—
2013 (2)	Protective spread	4,025	853,200	3.70			—		3.00		—		—
2013	Basis - HSC (1)	4,000	1,460,000	(0.11		)	—		—		—		—
2014	Short calls	2,500	912,500	—			—		—		—		6.00
2014	Costless three-way collar	3,000	1,095,000	—			4.00		3.00		—		4.36
2014	Costless three-way collar	5,000	1,825,000	—			3.75		3.00		—		4.55

 _______________________________

(1) East Houston-Katy - Houston Ship Channel

(2) For the period January to July 2013

As of September 30, 2012, the following crude derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume (1)	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	600	55,200	$	102.01	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Put spread	400	146,000	—		100.75		70.00		—		—
2014	Costless three-way collar	200	73,000	—		90.00		70.00		—		106.20

 _______________________________

(1) Crude volumes hedged include oil, condensate and certain components of our NGLs production.

As of September 30, 2012, the following NGLs derivative transactions were outstanding with the associated notional volumes and weighted average underlying hedge prices:

Settlement Period	Derivative Instrument	Average Daily Volume	Total of Notional Volume	Base Fixed Price		Floor (Long)		Short Put		Call (Long)		Ceiling (Short)
		(in Bbls)
2012	Fixed price swap	250	23,000	$	49.59	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2013	Fixed price swap	175	63,750	42.06		—		—		—		—

As of September 30, 2012, all of the Company’s economic derivative hedge positions were with a multinational energy company or large financial institutions, which are not known to the Company to be in default on their derivative positions. Credit support for the Company’s open derivatives at September 30, 2012 is provided under the Revolving Credit Facility through inter-creditor agreements or open credit accounts of up to $5.0 million. The Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent of non-performance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts discussed above; however, the Company does not anticipate non-performance by such counterparties. None of the Company’s derivative instruments contains credit-risk related contingent features.

In conjunction with certain derivative hedging activity, the Company deferred the payment of certain put premiums for the production month period July 2010 through December 2012. The put premium liabilities become payable monthly as the hedge production month becomes the prompt production month. The Company began amortizing the deferred put premium liabilities during July 2010. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had current commodity derivative premium payable liabilities of $1.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

Additional Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The tables below provide information on the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position and derivative gains and losses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments:

	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Derivative Assets (Liabilities)
		Fair Value
	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Current assets	$	11,446		$	19,385
Commodity derivative contracts	Other assets	2,685			4,130
Commodity derivative contracts	Current liabilities	(2,578		)	(6,479		)
Commodity derivative contracts	Long-term liabilities	(2,452		)	(1,163		)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	9,101		$	15,873
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Three Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	3,358		$	2,389
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(5,403		)	2,424
Total		$	(2,045	)	$	4,813
	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives For the Nine Months Ended
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
		(in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivative contracts	Natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues	$	8,717		$	6,569
Commodity derivative contracts	Unrealized hedge gain (loss)	(4,123		)	1,027
Total		$	4,594		$	7,596

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Capital Stock (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Issuances And Forfeitures Of Common Shares

The following table provides information regarding the issuances and forfeitures of Parent’s common shares pursuant to Parent’s 2006 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Other share issuances:
Restricted common shares granted	—	1,116,935
Restricted common shares vested	127,250	496,299
Stock options exercised	—	3,000
Common shares forfeited (1)	34,111	139,101
Common shares canceled	26,195	26,871

 __________________

(1) Represents common shares forfeited in connection with the payment of estimated withholding taxes on restricted common shares that vested and with the payment of the exercise price and estimated withholding taxes on option exercises during the period.

Schedule of Auction Market Preferred Securities by Stock Series

Following a change in control, Gastar USA will have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days after the date on which the change in control occurs, for cash at the following prices per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared), up to the redemption date:

Redemption Date	Redemption Price
On or after June 23, 2012 and prior to June 23, 2013	$	25.50
On or after June 23, 2013 and prior to June 23, 2014	$	25.25
On or after June 23, 2014	$	25.00

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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Summary of significant accounting policies) (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and Gastar USA included herein are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted and were prepared from the records of the Company and Gastar USA by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to interim financial statements and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair presentation of the results of operations and financial position for the interim periods. Such financial statements conform to the presentation reflected in the 2011 Form 10-K. The current interim period reported herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes, including Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the 2011 Form 10-K.

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Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company did not recognize a current income tax benefit or provision.

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Interest Expense

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Interest Expense [Abstract]

Interest Expense

Interest Expense

The following table summarizes the components of interest expense for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Interest expense:
Cash and accrued	$	549		$	180		$	1,272		$	559
Amortization of deferred financing costs	60			65			157			193
Capitalized interest	(579		)	(221		)	(1,343		)	(665		)
Total interest expense	$	30		$	24		$	86		$	87

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Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”) acquired 6,781,768 of Parent’s common shares during 2005 to 2007 in a series of private placement transactions. As a result of its share ownership, Chesapeake has the right to have an observer present at meetings of the Parent’s board of directors.

As of September 30, 2012, Chesapeake owned 6,781,768 of Parent’s common shares, or 10.3% of the Parent’s outstanding common shares.

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Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

In accordance with the provisions of current authoritative guidance, basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings or loss per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the assumed issuance of common shares for all potentially dilutive securities. Diluted amounts are not included in the computation of diluted loss per share, as such would be anti-dilutive.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012			2011
	(in thousands, except per share and share data)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd.	$	(83,457	)	$	1,014	$	(163,802	)	$	(795	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	63,601,645			63,238,069		63,494,224			62,901,860
Incremental shares from unvested restricted shares	—			551,687		—			—
Incremental shares from outstanding stock options	—			52,342		—			—
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	63,601,645			63,842,098		63,494,224			62,901,860
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Gastar Exploration Ltd. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Diluted	$	(1.31	)	$	0.02	$	(2.58	)	$	(0.01	)
Common shares excluded from denominator as anti-dilutive:
Unvested restricted shares	1,878,355			500		1,654,439			149,960
Stock options	979,725			838,200		926,271			857,825
Warrants	—			2,000,000		—			2,000,000
Total	2,858,080			2,838,700		2,580,710			3,007,785

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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	$ (5,403,000)	$ 2,424,000	$ (4,123,000)	$ 1,027,000
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives and Commodity Contracts		(2,400,000)		1,000,000
Credit support for open derivatives, open account balance	5,000,000		5,000,000
Commodity derivative premium payable current	$ 1,414,000		$ 1,414,000		$ 4,725,000

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	Fair value as of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,103	$	—	$	—		$	9,103
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		14,131			14,131
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(5,030		)	(5,030		)
Total	$	9,103	$	—	$	9,101		$	18,204
	Fair value as of December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	10,647	$	—	$	—		$	10,647
Restricted cash	50		—		—			50
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		23,515			23,515
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(7,642		)	(7,642		)
Total	$	10,697	$	—	$	15,873		$	26,570

Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation

The table below presents a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011. Level 3 instruments presented in the table consist of net derivatives that, in management’s opinion, reflect the assumptions a marketplace participant would have used at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	15,460		$	13,286		$	15,873		$	15,199
Total gains (losses) (realized or unrealized):
included in earnings	(2,045		)	4,813			4,594			7,596
included in other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—
Purchases	—			—			—			—
Issuances	—			—			—			—
Settlements (1)	(4,314		)	(2,853		)	(11,366		)	(7,549		)
Transfers in and (out) of Level 3	—			—			—			—
Balance at end of period	$	9,101		$	15,246		$	9,101		$	15,246
The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or (losses) relating to assets still held at September 30, 2012 and 2011	$	(5,403	)	$	2,424		$	(4,123	)	$	1,027

 _________________________________

(1) Included in total revenues on the statement of operations.

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Statement Of Cash Flows - Supplemental Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]

Statement Of Cash Flows Supplemental Information

The following is a summary of the supplemental cash paid and non-cash transactions for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	1,280		$	556
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures excluded from accounts payable and accrued drilling costs	724			(99		)
Capital expenditures excluded from prepaid expenses	99			—
Asset retirement obligation included in natural gas and oil properties	229			486
Asset retirement obligation assigned to operator	(2,099		)	—
Application of advances to operators	5,848			2,770

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Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (Investor)	36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2007	Sep. 30, 2012
Investor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common shares aquired by Chesapeake Energy Corporation (shares)	6,781,768
Common shares owned by Chesapeake Energy Corporation (shares)		6,781,768
Percentage owned by Chesapeake Energy Corporation (percentage)		10.32813%

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Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (158,855,000)	$ (376,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	19,744,000	10,797,000
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	150,787,000	0
Stock-based compensation	2,575,000	2,003,000
Unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss)	4,123,000	(1,027,000)
Realized loss (gain) on derivative contracts	(662,000)	(1,303,000)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	157,000	193,000
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	284,000	392,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,429,000	(4,199,000)
Commodity derivative contracts	0	(54,000)
Prepaid expenses	345,000	765,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	129,000	774,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,056,000	7,965,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Development and purchase of natural gas and oil properties	(100,606,000)	(58,672,000)
Advances to operators	(4,282,000)	(3,299,000)
(Use of proceeds) proceeds from non-operators	(1,085,000)	27,794,000
Purchase of furniture and equipment	(235,000)	(346,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(106,208,000)	(34,523,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	70,000,000	41,000,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(30,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs	49,169,000	16,855,000
Dividend on preferred stock attributable to non-controlling interest	(4,947,000)	(419,000)
Deferred financing charges	(332,000)	(13,000)
Other	(282,000)	(336,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	83,608,000	26,087,000
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,544,000)	(471,000)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	10,647,000	7,439,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	9,103,000	6,968,000
Gastar Exploration USA Inc.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	(157,704,000)	302,000
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	19,744,000	10,797,000
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	150,787,000	0
Stock-based compensation	2,575,000	2,003,000
Unrealized natural gas hedge gain (loss)	4,123,000	(1,027,000)
Realized loss (gain) on derivative contracts	(662,000)	(1,303,000)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	157,000	193,000
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	284,000	392,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,427,000	(4,193,000)
Commodity derivative contracts	0	(54,000)
Prepaid expenses	215,000	601,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(43,000)	675,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,903,000	8,386,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Development and purchase of natural gas and oil properties	(100,606,000)	(58,672,000)
Advances to operators	(4,282,000)	(3,299,000)
(Use of proceeds) proceeds from non-operators	(1,085,000)	27,794,000
Purchase of furniture and equipment	(235,000)	(346,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(106,208,000)	(34,523,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	70,000,000	41,000,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(30,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs	49,169,000	16,855,000
Dividend on preferred stock attributable to non-controlling interest	(4,947,000)	(419,000)
Deferred financing charges	(332,000)	(13,000)
Dividend to parent, net	(1,196,000)	(836,000)
Other	25,000	100,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	82,719,000	25,687,000
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,586,000)	(450,000)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	10,595,000	7,401,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$ 9,009,000	$ 6,951,000

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company discloses its recognized non-financial assets and liabilities, such as asset retirement obligations, unproved properties and other property and equipment, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. For non-financial assets and liabilities, the Company is required to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop these measurements. The Company assesses its unproved properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of those properties may not be recoverable. The fair value of the unproved properties is measured using an income approach based upon internal estimates of future production levels, current and future prices, drilling and operating costs, discount rates, current drilling plans and favorable and unfavorable drilling activity on the properties being evaluated and/or adjacent properties, which are Level 3 inputs. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, management's evaluation of unproved properties resulted in an impairment. Due to a decline in natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in East Texas, the Company reclassified $19.1 million of unproved properties to proved properties at September 30, 2012. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, the Company did not recognize an impairment of unproved properties. As no other fair value measurements are required to be recognized on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2012, no additional disclosures are provided at September 30, 2012.

As defined in the guidance, fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). To estimate fair value, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (“Level 1”) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (“Level 3”). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

• Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments, which have maturities of 90 days or less, including sweep investments and money market funds.

• Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

• Level 3 inputs are measured based on prices or valuation models that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies or third party broker quotes that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. The Company’s valuation models consider various inputs including (a) quoted forward prices for commodities, (b) time value, (c) volatility factors and (d) current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Level 3 instruments are commodity costless collars, index swaps, basis and fixed price swaps and put and call options to hedge natural gas, oil and NGLs price risk. At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an analysis of all applicable instruments and includes in Level 3 all of those whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs. The fair values derived from counterparties and third-party brokers are verified using publicly available values for relevant NYMEX futures contracts and exchange traded contracts for each derivative settlement location. Although such counterparty and third-party broker quotes are used to assess the fair value of its commodity derivative instruments, the Company does not have access to the specific assumptions used in its counterparties valuation models. Consequently, additional disclosures regarding significant Level 3 unobservable inputs were not provided andthe Company does not currently have sufficient corroborating market evidence to support classifying these contracts as Level 2 instruments.

As required, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The determination of the fair values below incorporates various factors, including the impact of the counterparty’s non-performance risk with respect to the Company’s financial assets and the Company’s non-performance risk with respect to the Company’s financial liabilities. The Company has not elected to offset the fair value amounts recognized for multiple derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty, but reports them gross on its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers between levels during the 2012 and 2011 periods.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	Fair value as of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,103	$	—	$	—		$	9,103
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		14,131			14,131
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(5,030		)	(5,030		)
Total	$	9,103	$	—	$	9,101		$	18,204
	Fair value as of December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	10,647	$	—	$	—		$	10,647
Restricted cash	50		—		—			50
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		23,515			23,515
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative contracts	—		—		(7,642		)	(7,642		)
Total	$	10,697	$	—	$	15,873		$	26,570

The table below presents a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011. Level 3 instruments presented in the table consist of net derivatives that, in management’s opinion, reflect the assumptions a marketplace participant would have used at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	15,460		$	13,286		$	15,873		$	15,199
Total gains (losses) (realized or unrealized):
included in earnings	(2,045		)	4,813			4,594			7,596
included in other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—
Purchases	—			—			—			—
Issuances	—			—			—			—
Settlements (1)	(4,314		)	(2,853		)	(11,366		)	(7,549		)
Transfers in and (out) of Level 3	—			—			—			—
Balance at end of period	$	9,101		$	15,246		$	9,101		$	15,246
The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or (losses) relating to assets still held at September 30, 2012 and 2011	$	(5,403	)	$	2,424		$	(4,123	)	$	1,027

 _________________________________

(1) Included in total revenues on the statement of operations.

At September 30, 2012, the estimated fair value of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts and revenue payables and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt at September 30, 2012 approximates the respective carrying value because the interest rate approximates the current market rate (Level 2).

The Company has consistently applied the valuation techniques discussed above in all periods presented.

The fair value guidance, as amended, establishes that every derivative instrument is to be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. See Note 6, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity.”

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Property, Plant And Equipment (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	25 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010 Atinum Joint Venture wells	Sep. 30, 2012 Atinum Joint Venture	Dec. 31, 2011 Atinum Joint Venture wells	Sep. 30, 2012 Atinum Joint Venture wells	Nov. 02, 2010 Atinum Joint Venture acre wells	Sep. 30, 2012 Atinum Joint Venture Maximum wells	Sep. 30, 2012 Atinum Joint Venture Minimum wells	Sep. 30, 2012 East Texas
Reclassification of unproved properties to proved properties												$ 19,100,000
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	78,054,000	0	150,787,000	0
Initial interest in Marcellus Shale Assets (percentage)									21.43%
Marcellus Shale assets gross acres (acres)									37,600
Marcellus Shale assets net acres (acres)									34,200
Marcellus Shale assets working interest In wells (percentage)									50.00%
Marcellus Shale assets productive conventional wells (wells)									16
Marcellus Shale assets non productive number of wells (wells)					1
Proceeds from sale of Marcellus Shale assets					30,000,000
Cash received from Atinum for drilling carrying costs					$ 40,000,000		$ 40,000,000
Atinum ownership interest in Atinum Joint Venture Assets (percentage)									50.00%
Percentage of share of drilling completion and infrastructure costs carried (percentage)					75.00%
Joint interest share of drilling completion and infrastructure costs (percentage)					50.00%	50.00%
Term of Atinum Joint Venture development program (years)			3 years
Minimum wells to be drilled (wells)							12
Required exploratroy wells drilled net productive to be drilled in current fiscal year (wells)										24
Amended required exploratroy wells drilled net productive to be drilled in current fiscal year (wells)											20
Operated wells drilled (wells)								35
Percentage of reimbursements for lease bonuses and third party lease costs up to 20 million (percentage)						10.00%
Percentage of lease operating expenses covered (percentage)						5.00%

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Capital Stock (Schedule of Issuances and Forfeitures of Common Shares) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options exercised (shares)	0		3,000
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted common shares granted (shares)	0		1,116,935
Restricted common shares vested (shares)	127,250		496,299
Common shares forfeited (shares)	34,111	[1]	139,101	[1]
Common shares canceled (shares)	26,195		26,871

[1] Represents common shares forfeited in connection with the payment of estimated withholding taxes on restricted common shares that vested and with the payment of the exercise price and estimated withholding taxes on option exercises during the period.

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Property, Plant And Equipment (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Capitalized Costs of Unproved Properties Excluded from Amortization

The following table summarizes the components of unproved properties excluded from amortization for the periods indicated:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Unproved properties, excluded from amortization:
Drilling in progress costs	$	3,155	$	3,958
Acreage acquisition costs	67,590		68,217
Capitalized interest	4,209		6,127
Total unproved properties excluded from amortization	$	74,954	$	78,302

Schedule of the Average Price Utilized in the Ceiling Test

The following table provides the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the equivalent realized price utilized in the ceiling testevaluations for the periods indicated:

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Average price per Mcfe	$	3.69	$	4.59