The gathering system total per unit operating costs reported include the effects of elimination entries to remove the gas gathering fees billed by the gas gathering system operator to Epsilon’s upstream operations, and the volume associated with those fees. The elimination entries amounted to $1.1 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively and $0.37 million and $0.43 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively (see Note 11, ‘‘Operating Segments,’’ of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).
Gathering system costs (net of intercompany elimination) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased $0.05 million, or 11%, over the same period in 2021. Gathering system costs (net of intercompany elimination) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased $0.09 million, or 63%, over the same period in 2021.
The Company’s share of total gathering system costs increased $0.09 million, or 7%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 over 2021. The Company’s share of total gathering system costs increased $0.05 million, or 12%, for the three months ended September 30, 2022 over 2021. This increase is primarily due to an increase in throughput volumes into the gathering system.
Loss on Derivative Contracts
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Loss on derivative contracts | | $ | (929,637) | | $ | (5,055,130) | | $ | (1,124,547) | | $ | (6,417,123) |
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, Epsilon entered into NYMEX Henry Hub two-way costless collar and Tennessee basis swap derivative contracts for the purpose of hedging its physical natural gas sales revenue. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we paid net cash settlements of $21,410 and $1,396,697, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we paid net cash settlements of $2,461,242 and $2,488,702, respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, realized losses on derivative contracts decreased as the Company had less volume hedged and the NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures price settled close to the strike prices of the Henry Hub collars. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had no derivative contracts beyond December 31, 2022.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Cash Flow
The primary source of cash for Epsilon during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was funds generated from operations. The primary uses of cash for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 were development of natural gas properties, the repurchase of shares of common stock, and the distribution of dividends. The primary uses of cash for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were development of natural gas properties and the repurchase of shares of common stock.
At September 30, 2022, we had a working capital surplus of $40.6 million, an increase of $16.4 million over the $24.1 million surplus at December 31, 2021. The Company anticipates its current cash balance, cash flows from operations, and available sources of liquidity to be sufficient to meet its cash requirements for the next twelve months and beyond.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to 2021
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, $29.4 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $13.5 million provided during the same period in 2021, a $15.9 million, and 117% increase. The increase was mainly due to increased cash from operations as a result of increased commodity prices, partially offset by the losses created on the hedges as they matured. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, $13.7 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $5.5 million provided during the same period in 2021, a $8.2 million, and 149% increase. The increase was mainly due to increased cash from operations as a result of increased commodity prices.