================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 12, 2006


                             GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

       ALBERTA, CANADA                001-32714                 38-3324634
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)


                          1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 1080
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (713) 739-1800
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

================================================================================




SECTION 7 - REGULATION FD

ITEM 7.01  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

     On July 12, 2006, the Company announced that the previously reported
non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire up to a 50% interest in rights attaching
to brown coal discoveries within the area of Exploration License 4416 in Latrobe
Valley, Victoria, Australia has expired.

     The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is being furnished solely
pursuant to Item 7.01 of this report.

SECTION 9 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d)   Exhibits

      The following is a list of exhibits furnished as part of this Form 8-K:

Exhibit No.                   Description of Document
-----------              ----------------------------------
   99.1                  Press release dated July 12, 2006.


                                      -2-




                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                           GASTAR EXPLORATION LTD.


Date:  July 12, 2006                By:    /s/  J. RUSSELL PORTER
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           J. Russell Porter
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                                      -3-




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                    Description of Document
-----------              ----------------------------------
   99.1                  Press release dated July 12, 2006.


                                      -4-