Gastar Exploration Ltd. (NYSE: GST) has reported that the Belin #2 well was successfully drilled to a depth of 19,650 feet and encountered approximately 130 net feet of pay in the lower Bossier formation within five separate sand intervals.

Gastar plans to complete the well in two initial zones and, depending upon the availability of frac stimulation services, expects the first of these initial completions to be on-line by the end of April.

The Belin #2 well is projected to cost approximately $11.0 million including the cost of the initial completions. Gastar has a 67% before payout working interest (approximately 50% before payout net revenue interest) in the Belin #2 well.

"The Belin #2 well was drilled in a previously non-producing fault block on the Hilltop structure and confirms the presence of high-quality reservoirs in this downthrown fault block," said J. Russell Porter, Gastar’s president and chief executive officer. "As previously announced, we will drill the Belin #3 well while continuing to focus on the exploitation of the shallower Eaglebine and Glen Rose oil formations on this same acreage block."