Lease Operating Expenses (“LOE”): LOE, which includes base lease operating expenses and insurance premiums, plus workovers and facilities maintenance, was $39.5 million in the third quarter of 2021. This amount reflects the delay of certain facility-related expenses that were postponed until the fourth quarter of 2021 due to Hurricane Ida. LOE was $47.6 million in the second quarter of 2021 and $36.4 million in the third quarter of 2020. On a component basis for the third quarter of 2021, base lease operating expenses plus insurance premiums were $35.0 million, workovers were $0.3 million and facilities maintenance and repairs expenses were $4.2 million. On a unit of production basis, LOE was $12.32 per Boe in the third quarter of 2021, down 4% from $12.78 per Boe in the second quarter of 2021, and up 7% from $11.49 per Boe in the third quarter of 2020.
Gathering, Transportation Costs and Production Taxes: Gathering, transportation costs and production taxes totaled $6.6 million, or $2.06 per Boe in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $6.8 million, or $1.82 per Boe in the second quarter of 2021, and $4.8 million, or $1.52 per Boe in the third quarter of 2020. Production taxes increased primarily due to higher realized natural gas prices.
Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion (“DD&A”): DD&A, including accretion for asset retirement obligations, was $8.20 per Boe of production for the third quarter of 2021 compared to $8.32 per Boe for the second quarter of 2021 and $7.93 per Boe for the third quarter of 2020.
General and Administrative Expenses (“G&A”): G&A was $13.4 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to $14.0 million in the second quarter of 2021 and $14.5 million for the third quarter of 2020. G&A cost was down slightly quarter-over-quarter due to higher COPAS credits and year-over-year due to lower office rent and lower legal expenses, partially offset by higher compensation costs in 2021. On a unit of production basis, G&A was $4.18 per Boe in the third quarter of 2021, $3.76 per Boe in the second quarter of 2021, and $4.57 per Boe in the third quarter of 2020.
Derivative (Gain) Loss: In the third quarter of 2021, W&T recorded a net derivative loss of $73.1 million, of which $43.1 million was an unrealized commodity derivative loss. This compared to a net derivative loss of $81.4 million in the second quarter of 2021, of which $66.1 million was an unrealized commodity derivative loss, and a net derivative loss of $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, of which $13.1 million was an unrealized commodity derivative loss. During the second and third quarters of 2021, the Company paid $32.4 million in cash premiums to purchase put and collar options related to the Mobile Bay transaction. “Synthetic long puts” were structured using purchased calls and sold swaps through the first quarter of 2025 and put options were purchased thereafter through May 2028 to establish floor prices and cover scheduled debt service payments while retaining the potential upside of higher natural gas prices longer term. The cost of the premiums will be amortized over the life of the options. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company unwound certain natural gas collar contracts covering 30,000 MMBTU per day in November and December of 2021 with weighted-average floor and ceiling prices of $2.18 and $3.00 per MMBTU, respectively, for a cost of $5.2 million.
A summary of the Company’s current outstanding derivative positions is provided on W&T’s web site in the “Investors” section under the “Financial Info” tab.
Interest Expense: Interest expense, net as reported in the income statement, in the third quarter of 2021 was $18.9 million compared with $16.5 million in the second quarter of 2021 and $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in interest expense in the third quarter of 2021 was related to interest on the $215 million Mobile Bay first lien secured term loan that closed in May 2021.
Income Tax: W&T recorded an income tax benefit of $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2021 compared to an income tax benefit of $12.7 million in the second quarter of 2021 and an income tax benefit of $21.1 million in the third quarter of 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, W&T’s income tax benefit primarily differed from the statutory Federal tax rate as a result of adjustments to the valuation allowance on certain deferred tax assets. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company’s effective tax rate primarily differed from the statutory Federal tax rate for adjustments recorded related to the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020. W&T’s effective tax rate was 13.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and was not meaningful for the three months ended September 30, 2020.