clients, the number and size of crews, the number of recording channels per crew, crew downtime related to inclement weather, delays in acquiring land access permits, agricultural or hunting activity, holiday schedules, short winter days, crew repositioning and equipment failure. To the extent we experience these factors, our operating results may be affected from quarter to quarter. Consequently, our efforts to negotiate more favorable contract terms in our supplemental service agreements, mitigate permit access delays and improve overall crew productivity may contribute to growth in our revenues. Further, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may further compound one or more of the foregoing factors and could directly affect our productivity.
Results of Operations
Operating Revenues. Operating revenues for the second quarter of 2022 increased 377.2% to $921,000 compared to $193,000 in the same period of 2021. Operating revenues increased 61.5% to $19,280,000 during the first six months of 2022 compared to $11,941,000 in the same period of 2021. The increased revenue during the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to the same periods of 2021 was primarily due to slightly increased crew utilization during those periods of 2022.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2022 increased 20.5% to $4,013,000 compared to $3,330,000 in the same period of 2021. Operating expenses increased 16.7% to $16,651,000 during the first six months of 2022 compared to $14,272,000 in the same period of 2021. The increase in operating expenses during the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to the same periods of 2021 was primarily due to the increased crew utilization during those periods of 2022.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were 262.2% and 41.2% of revenues in the second quarter and first six months of 2022, respectively compared to 1,422.8% and 46.5% of revenues in the same periods of 2021. General and administrative expenses decreased $331,000 or 12.1% to $2,415,000 during the second quarter of 2022 from $2,746,000 during the same period of 2021, and increased $2,393,000 or 43.1% to $7,946,000 during the first six months of 2022 from $5,553,000 during the same period of 2021. The primary factors for the decrease in general and administrative expenses during the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 was due to workforce reductions, salary reductions, and continued cost reduction efforts by management. The primary factor for the increase in general and administrative expenses during the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 was due to transaction costs of $2,872,000 incurred related to the previously disclosed proposed merger with a subsidiary of Wilks Brothers, LLC during the first quarter of 2022.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense for the second quarter and first six months of 2022 totaled $2,451,000 and $5,085,000, respectively, compared to $3,400,000 and $6,834,000 for the same periods of 2021. Depreciation expense decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 as a result of multiple years of reduced capital expenditures. Our depreciation expense is expected to remain below that of 2021 for the remainder of 2022 due to the anticipated continuation of maintenance levels of capital expenditures to maintain our existing asset base.
Total operating costs for the second quarter of 2022 were $8,879,000, representing a 6.3% decrease from the same period of 2021. The operating costs for the first six months of 2022 were $29,682,000, representing an 11.3% increase from the same period of 2021. The decrease in operating costs for the second quarter and increase during the first six months of 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to the factors described above.
Income Taxes. Income tax expense for the second quarter and first six months of 2022 was $16,000 and $16,000, respectively, compared to income tax expense of $0 and $0 for the same periods of 2021. These amounts represent effective tax rates of -0.2% and -0.2% for the second quarter and first six months of 2022, respectively, compared to 0.0% and 0.0% for the second quarter and first six months of 2021. The Company’s nominal or no effective tax rate for the periods above was due to the presence of net operating loss carryovers and adjustments to the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.
Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory federal rate of 21.0% for certain items such as state and local taxes, valuation allowances, non-deductible expenses and discrete items. For further information, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Use of EBITDA (a Non-GAAP measure)
We define EBITDA as net income (loss) plus interest expense, interest income, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization expense. Our management uses EBITDA as a supplemental financial measure to assess:
| ● | the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structures, taxes or historical cost basis; |
| ● | our liquidity and operating performance over time in relation to other companies that own similar assets and that we believe calculate EBITDA in a similar manner; and |