Water Handling
| ● | Fresh water delivery revenue remained relatively consistent at $37 million and $38 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021. |
| ● | Other fluid handling services revenue decreased $6 million primarily due to a $7 million decrease in services that are billed at cost plus 3% as a result of operational efficiencies associated with our flowback and produced water blending services and cost reductions, partially offset by a $1 million increase in water blending services. |
Direct operating expenses. Total direct operating expenses decreased by 6%, from $42 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $40 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Gathering and processing direct operating expenses increased 21% from $14 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $17 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to higher maintenance expense and ad valorem taxes between periods, as well as increased expense from one new compressor station that came online in the summer of 2020. Water handling direct operating expenses decreased by 20%, from $28 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $23 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to operational efficiencies associated with flowback and produced wastewater services.
General and administrative (excluding equity-based compensation) expenses. General and administrative expenses (excluding equity-based compensation expense) increased 15%, from $10 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $11 million for three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to (i) higher costs allocated to us from Antero Resources as a result of increased capital expenditures during the second quarter of 2021 and (ii) increased legal costs associated with the Clearwater Facility, partially offset by cost reduction efforts between periods.
Equity-based compensation expenses. Equity-based compensation expenses remained consistent at $3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021.
Facility idling expenses. Facility idling expenses decreased 60%, from $2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to reduced Clearwater Facility decommissioning costs between periods.
Depreciation expense. Total depreciation expense remained relatively consistent at $28 million and $27 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased by 23%, from $35 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $44 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 due to the issuance of (i) $550 million of 7.875% senior unsecured notes due May 15, 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) on November 10, 2020 and (ii) $750 million of 5.375% senior notes due June 15, 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) on June 8, 2021, partially offset by lower borrowings under the Credit Facility during the three months ended June 30, 2021 and the redemption of all $650 million of 5.375% senior notes due September 15, 2024 (“2024 Notes”) on June 8, 2021.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in earnings in unconsolidated affiliates increased by 3%, from $21 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $22 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily attributable to an increase in the level of volume throughput at the Joint Venture between periods.
Loss on early extinguishment of debt. Loss on early extinguishment of debt for the three months ended June 30, 2021 of $21 million relates to the redemption of all $650 million principal amount of the 2024 Notes at a premium to par of $17 million as well as the write-off of $6 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, partially offset by $2 million of unamortized premium.
Provision for income tax expense. Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021 was $32 million and $28 million, respectively, which reflects an effective tax rates of 26.5% and 26.2%, respectively.
Net income. Net income decreased by 9% from $88 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to $80 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to higher gathering and processing revenues and lower direct operating and facility idling expenses between periods, partially offset by lower water handling revenues, higher interest expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt between periods.