Gastar Exploration has successfully completed its best producing well to date, the Belin #1, which was completed in two lower Bossier zones.

The well is flowing at a combined initial gross sales rate of 41.2 MMcf/day on a 20/64ths inch choke with approximately 10,300 psi of flowing casing pressure. Gastar owns a 52% working interest before payout (40% net revenue interest before payout) in the Belin #1.

"The Belin #1 is our best producer to date, and based on the high quality of the reservoir rock and the strong initial production rate, we expect it will also be our best well to date in the Hilltop area in terms of estimated recoverable reserves," said J. Russell Porter, Gastar's President and CEO.

"To put this well into perspective, our biggest producer prior to the Belin #1 was the Wildman #3, which IP'ed at 23 MMcf/day. Comparing it against the entire play, we believe the Belin #1 is among the top ten best wells reported by any producer in any area of the Bossier," he added.

"The Belin #1 contains the highest porosity rock we have drilled to date, and we believe there is high-quality reservoir rock uphole from our initial lower completions that could allow us to maintain strong flow rates well into the future."

In addition, Gastar is currently drilling a sidetrack to the LOR #7 and expects to reach total depth in approximately 5 to 10 days. Gastar has a 50% working interest before payout (37.5% net revenue interest before payout) in the LOR #7.

Tags: Gastar Exploration Ltd.