were $8.7 million. On a unit of production basis, LOE was $18.72 per Boe in the third quarter of 2023. This compares to $19.60 per Boe for the second quarter of 2023 and $15.46 per Boe for the third quarter of 2022.
Gathering, Transportation Costs, and Production Taxes: Gathering, transportation costs and production taxes totaled $6.7 million ($2.03 per Boe) in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $6.8 million ($2.02 per Boe) in the second quarter of 2023 and $12.2 million ($3.20 per Boe) in the third quarter of 2022. Production taxes remained relatively flat on a per Boe basis quarter-over-quarter despite higher realized natural gas prices during the third quarter of 2023. Gathering, transportation costs and production taxes decreased by $5.5 million year-over-year due to decreases in realized pricing and production volumes.
Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion (“DD&A”): DD&A, including accretion expense related to asset retirement obligations (“ARO”), was $11.09 per Boe in the third quarter of 2023. This compares to $10.66 per Boe and $8.93 per Boe for the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022, respectively.
General & Administrative Expenses (“G&A”): G&A was $20.0 million for the third quarter of 2023, which increased from $17.4 million in the second quarter of 2023 primarily due to higher salary and benefits costs. G&A decreased by $3.1 million year-over-year from $23.0 million in the third quarter of 2022 primarily due to non-recurring professional and legal services in 2022. On a unit of production basis, G&A was $6.05 per Boe in the third quarter of 2023 compared to $5.16 per Boe in the second quarter of 2023 and $6.04 per Boe in the corresponding period of 2022.
Derivative (Gain) Loss: In the third quarter of 2023, W&T recorded a net gain of $1.5 million related to commodity derivative contracts comprised of a $3.5 million unrealized gain related primarily to the increase in fair value of open contracts, partially offset by $2.0 million of realized losses. The Company recognized a net gain of $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2023 and a net loss of $38.7 million in the third quarter of 2022 related to commodity derivative activities.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, W&T has 71.7 MMcf/d hedged for natural gas and no existing hedges for oil. A significant portion of W&T’s natural gas hedges, in the form of sold swaps and purchased calls and puts, were entered into in conjunction with the non-recourse Mobile Bay term loan entered into by borrowers owned by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Aquasition Energy LLC and will continue through the life of that loan.
A summary of the Company’s outstanding derivative positions is provided on W&T’s website in the “Investors” section under the “Financial Information” tab.
Interest Expense: Net interest expense in the third quarter of 2023 was $9.9 million compared to $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2023 and $16.8 million in the third quarter of 2022. The decreases are due to the full redemption of the 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes which occurred in February 2023, lower interest expense on the lower outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan and increased interest income. These decreases were partially offset by interest expense incurred on the 11.75% Senior Second Lien Notes issued in late January 2023.
Other (Income) Expense, net: During 2021 and 2022, as a result of the declaration of bankruptcy by a third party that is the indirect successor in title to certain offshore interests that were previously divested by the Company, W&T recorded a contingent loss accrual related to anticipated decommissioning obligations. During the third quarter of 2023, the Company reassessed the existing decommissioning obligations, recording an additional $2.1 million.
Income Tax: W&T recognized income tax expense of $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. This compares to the recognition of income tax expense of $3.0 million and $16.4 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity: As of September 30, 2023, W&T had available liquidity of $199.0 million comprised of $149.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $50.0 million of borrowing availability under W&T’s first priority secured revolving facility provided by Calculus Lending LLC (“Calculus”). At quarter-end, the Company had total debt of $397.2 million, or Net Debt of $248.2 million, net of cash and cash equivalents. Of the Company’s total debt of $397.2 million, only $279.0 million is recourse to W&T. The remaining $118.2 million is held at W&T’s subsidiary, Aquasition Energy LLC, and is non-recourse to W&T. As of September 30, 2023, Net Debt to TTM Adjusted EBITDA was 1.2 times.
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions: Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions and changes in working capital associated with investing activities) in the third quarter of 2023 were $8.0 million, and asset retirement costs