Gathering, Transportation Costs and Production Taxes: Gathering, transportation costs and production taxes totaled $6.1 million ($2.15 per Boe) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $8.6 million ($2.70 per Boe) in the second quarter of 2024 and $6.7 million ($2.03 per Boe) in the third quarter of 2023. Gathering, transportation costs and production taxes decreased in the third quarter of 2024 from the prior quarter due to higher processing fees for W&T’s Mobile Bay production that had to be re-routed to a different processing plant in the second quarter of 2024.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (“DD&A”): DD&A was $11.99 per Boe in the third quarter of 2024. This compares to $11.55 per Boe and $9.15 per Boe for the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023, respectively.
Asset Retirement Obligations Accretion: Asset retirement obligations accretion was $2.75 per Boe in the third quarter of 2024. This compares to $2.64 per Boe and $1.94 per Boe for the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023, respectively.
General & Administrative Expenses (“G&A”): G&A was $19.7 million for the third quarter of 2024, which decreased from $21.4 million in the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to the decrease in non-recurring professional and legal fees incurred in the second quarter of 2024 partially offset by an increase in non-cash compensation expense in the third quarter of 2024 associated with the annual equity grant. G&A totaled $20.0 million in the third quarter of 2023. On a unit of production basis, G&A was $6.91 per Boe in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $6.72 per Boe in the second quarter of 2024 and $6.05 per Boe in the corresponding period of 2023. These differences are primarily related to production variances.
Derivative (Gain) Loss, net: In the third quarter of 2024, W&T recorded a net gain of $3.2 million related to commodity derivative contracts comprised of a $1.8 million unrealized gain related to the increase in fair value of open contracts and $1.4 million of realized gains. W&T recognized a net loss of $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2024 and a net gain of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2023 related to commodity derivative activities.
A summary of the Company’s outstanding derivative positions is provided in the investor presentation posted on W&T’s website.
Interest Expense: Net interest expense in the third quarter of 2024 was $10.0 million compared to $10.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 and $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2023.
Other Expense: 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 non-ARO P&A costs. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company reassessed its existing obligations and recorded an additional $16.6 million.
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense: W&T recognized an income tax benefit of $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2024. This compares to the recognition of an income tax benefit of $4.6 million and an income tax expense of $4.8 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity: As of September 30, 2024, W&T had available liquidity of $176.5 million comprised of $126.5 million in unrestricted 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. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had total debt of $392.6 million and Net Debt of $266.0 million. Of W&T’s total debt of $392.6 million, only $278.4 million is recourse to W&T. The remaining $114.2 million is held at W&T’s wholly owned subsidiary, Aquasition Energy LLC, and is non-recourse to W&T. As of September 30, 2024, Net Debt to TTM Adjusted EBITDA was 1.6x.
Capital Expenditures and Asset Retirement Settlements: Capital expenditures on an accrual basis (excluding acquisitions) in the third quarter of 2024 were $4.5 million, and asset retirement settlement costs totaled $8.3 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, capital expenditures on an accrual basis (excluding acquisitions) totaled $16.4 million and asset retirements costs were $20.3 million. Investments related to acquisitions in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 totaled $80.6 million, which included $77.3 million for the Cox acquisition and $3.3 million of final purchase price adjustments related to W&T’s acquisition of properties in September 2023.