Sec Form 4 Filing - Gerlich Michael A @ Gastar Exploration Inc. - 2017-01-30

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Gerlich Michael A 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Gastar Exploration Inc. [ GST] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior VP & CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1331 LAMAR, SUITE 650 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/30/2017 (Street) HOUSTON, TX77010 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/30/2017 F 53,975 ( 1 ) D $ 1.66 1,134,733 ( 2 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares 2014 Performance Based Units $ 0 01/30/2017 J 17,528 ( 3 ) ( 4 ) 01/30/2017 Common Stock 17,528 $ 0 0 D 2015 Performance Based Units $ 0 ( 5 ) 01/30/2018 Common Stock 135,417 135,417 D 2016 Performance Based Units $ 0 ( 5 ) 01/30/2019 Common Stock 191,176 191,176 D Restricted Stock Units $ 0 01/30/2017 A 171,310 ( 6 ) 01/30/2020 Common Stock 171,310 $ 0 171,310 D Performance Based Rights Units $ 0 01/30/2017 A 171,310 ( 7 ) 01/30/2020 Common Stock 171,310 ( 8 ) $ 0 171,310 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Gerlich Michael A 1331 LAMAR, SUITE 650 HOUSTON, TX77010 Senior VP & CFO Signatures /s/ Michael A. Gerlich 02/01/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Shares forfeited to meet tax obligation of restricted share vesting. ( 2 )Includes 172,592 shares acquired on various dates pursuant to previously reported restricted share grants that will vest subject to previously disclosed vesting schedules. ( 3 )These PBUs vested and forfeited as a result of the 2014 PBU award settling at 0% of the target award based on Gastar's share price depreciation over the performance period. ( 4 )These performance based units ("PBUs") vest ratably over a three-year performance period as previously reported. ( 5 )These PBUs vest in their entirety at the end of a three-year performance period as previously reported. ( 6 )These restricted stock units were granted in place of restricted common stock. At an undetermined date in the future, these restricted stock units, at the approval of the shareholders of additional shares to the Long-Term Incentive Plan, will be converted to restricted common stock that will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 30, 2018. ( 7 )These performance based rights units were granted in place of performance based units. At an undetermined date in the future, these performance based rights units, at the approval of the shareholders of additional shares to the Long-Term Incentive Plan, will be converted to performance based units that will vest in their entirety at the end of a three-year performance period with settlement in common stock between 0% and 200% (subject to limitations discussed below) of the target award based on Gastar's share price appreciation over a three-year performance period relative to a peer index. Share price appreciation is measured generally as the change in market value of common stock during the performance period. The performance based rights units have no voting rights.Should shareholder approval not occur, the Company will be obligated to settle the performance based rights units in cash at an amount equal to the fair value of a common share at vesting. ( 8 )The number of performance based rights units reported (171,310) represents the target award for performance based units. As such, the number of shares that may be issued upon vesting ranges from 0 shares to 342,620 shares. **As discussed above, at the end of the performance period, the participant may earn up to 200% of the target award, subject to a maximum award limitation of one million (1,000,000) shares that may be issued to any individual in a calendar year under the Gastar Exploration Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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