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HOUSTON, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 1, 2012, Chesapeake Energy Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary Chesapeake Exploration L.L.C. (together, "Chesapeake") filed
a lawsuit against Gastar Exploration Ltd. (NYSE MKT: GST) and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, "Gastar") in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
The lawsuit is based on claims previously described in Gastar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The lawsuit seeks rescission of certain transactions
that closed in 2005 involving Gastar's Hilltop Prospect in Leon and Robertson Counties in Texas and an investment in Gastar's common stock by Chesapeake. In addition to its
original initial investment of $81.6 million, Chesapeake is seeking reimbursement of additional lease and well costs allegedly expended by them. J. Russell Porter, Gastar's President
and CEO, stated, "It is very disappointing that Chesapeake has chosen to pursue this litigation. Chesapeake's claims, which are based on an alleged 'mutual mistake of
fact,' are completely without merit. As Chesapeake admits in its complaint, it was well aware of Navasota Resources L.P.'s adverse claims to the properties before it closed the
transaction with Gastar and the possibility of an adverse outcome in the Navasota claim was addressed in the transaction documents. Gastar rejects Chesapeake's claims and intends to
vigorously defend itself against this lawsuit." ABOUT GASTAR Gastar Exploration Ltd. is an independent company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and
oil in the United States. Gastar's principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties
with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. Gastar is currently pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachia
area of West Virginia and, to a lesser extent, central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Gastar also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and in
the Mid-Continent area of the United States. For more information, visit Gastar's website at www.gastar.com. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT AND DISCLAIMER This news release includes
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Forward looking statements give our current expectations, opinion, belief or forecasts of future events and performance. A statement identified by the use of forward looking words including
"may," "expects," "projects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimate," "will," "should," and
certain of the other foregoing statements may be deemed forward-looking statements. Although Gastar believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future activities and results to be materially different from those suggested or described in this news
release. These include risks inherent in natural gas and oil drilling and production activities, including risks of fire, explosion, blowouts, pipe failure, casing collapse, unusual or
unexpected formation pressures, environmental hazards, and other operating and production risks, which may temporarily or permanently reduce production or cause initial production or test
results to not be indicative of future well performance or delay the timing of sales or completion of drilling operations; delays in receipt of drilling permits; risks with respect to
natural gas and oil prices, a material decline in which could cause Gastar to delay or suspend planned drilling operations or reduce production levels; risks relating to the availability of
capital to fund drilling operations that can be adversely affected by adverse drilling results, production declines and declines in natural gas and oil prices; risks relating to unexpected
adverse developments in the status of properties; risks relating to the absence or delay in receipt of government approvals or fourth party consents; and other risks described in
Gastar's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Our actual
sales production rates can vary considerably from tested initial production rates depending upon completion and production techniques and our primary areas of operations are subject to
natural steep decline rates. By issuing forward looking statements based on current expectations, opinions, views or beliefs, Gastar has no obligation and, except as required by law, is not
undertaking any obligation, to update or revise these statements or provide any other information relating to such statements. Contacts: Gastar Exploration Ltd. Michael A. Gerlich, Chief
Financial Officer 713-739-1800 / [email protected] Investor Relations Counsel: Lisa Elliott / Anne Pearson DRG&L: 713-529-6600 [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Gastar
Exploration Ltd.