The COVID-19 pandemic, commodity market volatility and resulting financial market instability are variables beyond our control that can adversely impact our generation of funds from operating cash flows, our available borrowings under our Credit Facility and our ability to access the capital markets. We believe we are taking appropriate steps in response to the evolving circumstances. However, past performance is not a promise of future events and the Company cannot estimate all aspects of the ongoing impact of the pandemic-related events and the OPEC+ production adjustments on the Company’s financial statements.
Results of Operations – For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
Oil and natural gas sales. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, oil and natural gas sales revenue decreased $18,872,561 to $31,466,544, compared to $50,339,105 for the same period during 2019, primarily as a result of lower production and lower commodity prices.
Oil sales decreased $19,174,988 and natural gas sales increased $302,427. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, oil sales volume decreased 125,248 barrels to 781,626 barrels, compared to 906,874 barrels for the same period in 2019. The average realized per barrel of oil price decreased 29% from $54.59 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $38.80 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, gas sales volume decreased 150,504 thousand cubic feet (MCF) to 581,123 MCF, compared to 731,627 MCF for the same period in 2019. The average realized natural gas price per MCF increased 71% from $1.14 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $1.96 for the three months ended September 30, 2020.
Oil and gas production costs, including ad valorem taxes. Our lease operating expenses (LOE) decreased from $15,478,052, or $15.04 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $9,678,011 or $11.02 per BOE for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decreases both in total and in the per BOE rate are a result of efforts to improve efficiencies in our operations.
Production taxes. Production taxes as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales were 5% during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and remained steady at 5% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. These rates are expected to stay relatively steady unless we make acquisitions in other states with differing production tax rates or the states of Texas or New Mexico change their production tax rates.
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion. Our depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion expense decreased by $3,293,604 to $11,057,773 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $14,351,377 during the same period in 2019. The decrease was the result of a combination of a lower depletion rate per BOE and lower production volumes between periods. The lower depletion rate is primarily the result of the ceiling test write down during the second quarter 2020.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expense decreased $1,249,001 to $2,496,927 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $3,745,928 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to lower cash and stock based compensation related expenses and legal expenses in 2020 as compared to 2019.
Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $99,259 to $4,457,250 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $4,556,509 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. This decrease was the result of lower interest rates between periods.
Realized gain on derivative instruments. Realized gain on derivatives for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $1,726,373. There was no realized gain or loss on derivatives during the three months ended September 30, 2019. This change is the result of significantly lower oil prices.
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company records all derivative instruments, other than those that meet the normal purchases and sales exception, on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the change in fair value resulted in the recognition of a loss of $6,228,453 on derivative contracts as compared to a gain of $1,877,368 during the same period in 2019.
Net income (loss). For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company had net loss of $1,961,603, as compared to net income of $8,858,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The primary contributors to this change are lower revenues as a result of lower commodity prices and the unrealized loss on derivatives instruments.