Water Handling
| ● | Fresh water delivery revenue decreased $5 million period over period primarily due to decreased fresh water delivery volumes of 2 MMBbl, or 17 MBbl/d, as a result of a decrease in the number of wells completed, partially offset by a 3% increase to the fresh water delivery rate as a result of the annual CPI-based adjustment. |
| ● | Other fluid handling services revenue increased $2 million primarily due to an increased water blending services between periods. |
Direct operating expenses. Total direct operating expenses increased by 7%, from $39 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $42 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Gathering and processing direct operating expenses remained consistent at $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2022. Water handling direct operating expenses increased by 12%, from $22 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $25 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase in total direct operating expenses and water handling direct operating expenses was primarily due to $3 million in higher fresh water delivery direct operating expenses between periods as a result of resuming fresh water deliveries in the Utica for Antero Resources’ development program during the first quarter of 2022.
General and administrative (excluding equity-based compensation) expenses. General and administrative expenses (excluding equity-based compensation expense) increased 8%, from $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $15 million for three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to increased legal costs associated with the Veolia legal matter between periods. See “Item 1. Legal Proceedings” below for additional information.
Equity-based compensation expenses. Equity-based compensation expenses decreased 29%, from $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, to $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to lower expense allocated to us for awards granted prior to March 12, 2019.
Facility idling expenses. Facility idling expenses remained consistent at $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Impairment of property and equipment expense. Impairment of property and equipment expense of $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily a lower of cost or market adjustment for pipe inventory. There were no impairments of property and equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Depreciation expense. Total depreciation expense remained relatively consistent at $27 million and $28 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Loss (gain) on asset sale. Loss on asset sale of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily relates to the sale of excess pipe inventory during the period. Gain on asset sale for the three months ended March 31, 2022 relates to the sale of miscellaneous equipment and excess pipe inventory during the period.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased by 3%, from $43 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $44 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to the issuance of $750 million of 5.375% senior notes due 2029 on June 8, 2021, partially offset by the redemption of all $650 million of the 5.375% senior notes due 2024 on June 8, 2021.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in earnings in unconsolidated affiliates increased by 12%, from $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $23 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to an increase in the level of volume at the Joint Venture between periods, including one new Joint Venture processing plant with nameplate capacity of 200 MMcf/d being placed in service during July 2021.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense remained consistent for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2022 at $28 million, which reflects effective tax rates of 25.1% and 26.0%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily related to a higher amount of our taxable income being apportioned to West Virginia.
Net income. Net income decreased by 4%, from $83 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $80 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to (i) lower gathering, compression and water handling revenues, (ii) higher water handling direct operating expenses, (iii) higher general and administrative costs, excluding equity-based compensation expense, and (iv) higher interest expense, partially offset by higher equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates between periods.