MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 5, 2010) - Gastem (TSX VENTURE:GMR - News) is pleased to announce that the St. Hyacinthe HZ1A well on the 37,247 hectare Canbriam Energy/Gastem St-Hyacinthe Property has been spud. Planned Measured Depth of the well is 3,360 meters, with a lateral section of 1,000 meters, and should be reached in approximately three weeks.

The St. Hyacinthe HZ1A horizontal well is the final well of a four well continuous program composed of three horizontal wells and one vertical well on the St-Hyacinthe Property to be drilled and tested during 2010. Fracture completion of the well will be done as part of a program to stimulate all 3 horizontal wells following the drilling of this last horizontal well. Pipeline infrastructure is present on the property.

"The drill rig has moved from St. Barnabe, where the second horizontal well has been successfully drilled and cased, to the site of the St. Hyacinthe well," said Mr. Raymond Savoie, CEO of Gastem. "Once this drill program has been completed, all horizontal wells will be fracture stimulated and results will be made known as soon as available."

Gastem is an independent oil and gas exploration and development company based in Montreal. The company holds exploration and storage permits and rights in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Gaspe Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands in Quebec as well as rights and interests in New York State and Virginia.