NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
Revenues. Revenues of $449.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 decreased 54.4 percent compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Domestic revenues of $421.3 million decreased 54.9 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in revenues was due primarily to lower activity levels and lower pricing within most of RPC’s service lines. International revenues of $28.4 million decreased 46.4 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average price of natural gas was 28.5 percent lower and the average price of oil was 32.5 percent lower, both as compared to the same period in the prior year. The average domestic rig count during the first nine months of 2020 was 51.5 percent lower than the same period in 2019.
The Technical Services segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 decreased 54.9 percent compared to the same period in the prior year due to lower pricing and activity levels within most of the service lines which comprise this segment. The Support Services segment revenues for the first nine months of 2020 decreased by 46.2 percent compared to the same period in the prior year. This decrease was due principally to lower activity levels for rental tools. Technical Services reported an operating loss of $71.2 million during the first nine months of 2020 compared to an operating loss of $15.8 million in the first nine months of 2019 due to lower pricing and activity levels. Support Services reported an operating loss of $4.1 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to an operating profit of $8.8 million for the first nine months of 2019.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues decreased 51.1 percent to $362.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $742.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Cost of revenues decreased primarily due to lower materials and supplies expenses and employment costs consistent with lower activity levels and as a result of RPC’s expense reduction initiatives. As a percentage of revenues, cost of revenues increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the negative leverage of these expenses over significantly lower revenues.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $97.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $131.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. These expenses decreased during the first nine months of 2020 compared to the prior year primarily due to lower employment and other costs resulting from RPC’s cost reduction initiatives during the previous several quarters. As a percentage of revenues, these costs increased to 21.7 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to 13.3 percent in the same period of the prior year due to the negative leverage of significantly lower revenues over primarily fixed expenses.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased 40.4 percent to $77.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $130.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Depreciation and amortization decreased significantly because of the asset impairment charges recorded during previous quarters.
Impairment and other charges. Impairment and other charges were $207.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $71.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Impairment and other charges for 2020 is comprised primarily of the amount by which several of our asset groups’ carrying amounts exceed their fair value, coupled with severance costs. See Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of these charges.
Gain on disposition of assets, net. Gain on disposition of assets, net increased to $7.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The gain on disposition of assets, net is generally comprised of gains and losses related to various property and equipment dispositions or sales to customers of lost or damaged rental equipment.
Other expense, net. Other expense, net was $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to other expense, net of $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year.
Interest expense. Interest expense was $257 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $261 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Interest expense consists of facility fees on the unused portion of the credit facility and the amortization of loan costs.