NGLs sales. Revenues from sales of NGLs increased from $440 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $660 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $220 million, or 50%. Higher commodity prices (excluding the effects of derivative settlements) during the three months ended March 31, 2022 accounted for an approximate $235 million increase in year-over-year revenues (calculated as the change in the year-to-year average price times current year production volumes). Lower NGLs production volumes accounted for an approximate $15 million decrease in year-over-year NGL revenues (calculated as the change in year-to-year volumes times the prior year average price).
Oil sales. Revenues from sales of oil increased from $45 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $63 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $18 million, or 42%. Higher oil prices, excluding the effects of derivative settlements, accounted for an approximate $29 million increase in year-over-year oil revenues (calculated as the change in the year-to-year average price times current year production volumes). Lower oil production volumes during the three months ended March 31, 2022 accounted for an approximate $11 million decrease in year-over-year oil revenues (calculated as the change in year-to-year volumes times the prior year average price).
Commodity derivative fair value losses. To achieve more predictable cash flows, and to reduce our exposure to price fluctuations, we enter into fixed for variable price swap contracts, swaptions, basis swap contracts and collar contracts when management believes that favorable future sales prices for our production can be secured. Because we do not designate these derivatives as accounting hedges, they do not receive hedge accounting treatment. Consequently, all mark-to-market gains or losses, as well as cash receipts or payments on settled derivative instruments, are recognized in our statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2022, our commodity hedges resulted in derivative fair value losses of $178 million and $1.0 billion, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, commodity derivative fair value losses included $5 million of cash proceeds for gains on settled derivatives. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, commodity derivative fair value losses included $285 million of cash payments on commodity settled derivatives losses.
Commodity derivative fair value gains or losses vary based on future commodity prices and have no cash flow impact until the derivative contracts are settled or monetized prior to settlement. Derivative asset or liability positions at the end of any accounting period may reverse to the extent future commodity prices increase or decrease from their levels at the end of the accounting period, or as gains or losses are realized through settlement. We expect continued volatility in commodity prices and the related fair value of our derivative instruments in the future.
Amortization of deferred revenue, VPP. Amortization of deferred revenues associated with the VPP decreased from $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $2 million or 17%, primarily due to a decrease in production volumes. Under the terms of the agreement, the production volumes are delivered at approximately $1.61 per MMBtu over the contractual term.
Lease operating expense. Lease operating expense decreased from $25 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $7 million or 28%, primarily due to lower production volumes. On a per unit basis, lease operating expenses decreased from $0.08 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $0.06 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to lower water disposal costs, partially offset by decreased production and higher workover expense.
Gathering, compression, processing, and transportation expense. Gathering, compression, processing, and transportation expense decreased from $605 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $590 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $15 million or 2%, primarily a result of lower production and decreased gathering and compression costs, partially offset by higher processing costs between periods. Gathering and compression costs decreased from $0.74 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $0.71 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to $12 million in incentive fee rebates earned from Antero Midstream during the three months ended March 31, 2022 that were not earned during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Processing costs increased from $0.62 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $0.67 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to increased costs for ethane transportation as well as increased processing fees as a result of an annual CPI-based adjustment during the first quarter of 2022. Transportation costs increased from $0.67 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $0.70 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to higher fuel costs between periods.
Production and ad valorem tax expense. Total production and ad valorem taxes increased from $45 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $53 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $8 million, or 18% primarily due to higher commodity prices between periods. On a per Mcfe basis, production and ad valorem taxes increased from $0.15 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $0.19 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Production and ad