Production sales for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were approximately 2.4 MMBoe (52% liquids), or 26.4 MBoe per day, compared to approximately 1.6 MMBoe (48% liquids), or 17.2 MBoe per day in the prior year quarter. The third quarter production sales were higher than the upper end of guidance provided by the Company for the quarter, primarily as a result of the properties acquired in the Wind River Basin Acquisition, which closed on August 31, 2021. Net oil production sales were approximately 9,000 barrels per day for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to approximately 4,800 barrels per day in the prior year quarter, an increase attributable to the production from the properties acquired in the Mid-Con Acquisition and the Silvertip Acquisition, which closed on January 21, 2021 and February 1, 2021, respectively. Net natural gas production sales increased to approximately 76.7 MMcf per day during the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared with approximately 53.8 MMcf per day during the three months ended September 30, 2020 primarily due to production from the properties acquired in the Wind River Basin Acquisition. Net natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) production sales increased to approximately 4,500 barrels per day during the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to approximately 3,500 barrels per day in the prior year quarter due to the new, higher liquid content production acquired in the Silvertip Acquisition.
The weighted average equivalent sales price realized for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $40.18 per Boe compared to $19.13 per Boe for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in the third quarter 2021 realized prices was primarily attributable to an improvement in the economy and higher realized commodity prices in 2021 brought about by domestic vaccination programs that have helped reduce the spread of COVID-19. The lower prior year prices were attributable to the decline in realized commodity prices in early 2020 as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impact on the global demand for oil and natural gas. The realized price of crude oil averaged $67.39 per Bbl in the current year quarter compared to an average $39.30 per Bbl in the prior year quarter. The realized price of natural gas averaged $3.72 per Mcf in the current year quarter compared to an average of $1.60 per Mcf in the prior year quarter, and the realized price of NGLs averaged $36.30 per Bbl in the current year quarter compared to an average of $15.73 per Bbl in the prior year quarter.
Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were approximately $44.9 million, compared to $14.6 million for the same period last year, an increase attributable primarily to the properties acquired in the Mid-Con Acquisition, the Silvertip Acquisition, and the Wind River Basin Acquisition. Included in operating expenses are direct lease operating expenses, transportation and processing costs, workover expenses, production and ad valorem taxes and other expenses related to plants and pipelines. Operating expenses, exclusive of production and ad valorem taxes of $6.9 million and $1.5 million for the respective 2021 and 2020 quarters, were approximately $38.0 million for the 2021 quarter compared to approximately $13.1 million for the prior year quarter. The third quarter operating expenses were higher than the upper end of guidance provided by the Company for the quarter, primarily as a result of the production enhancing workovers.
DD&A expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $9.8 million, or $4.03 per Boe, compared to $6.2 million, or $3.90 per Boe, for the 2020 quarter. The higher depletion expense and rate per Boe in the current year quarter was primarily due to the liquids-heavy properties acquired in the Mid-Con Acquisition and the Silvertip Acquisition.
Total G&A expenses were $14.6 million, or $6.02 per Boe, for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $8.7 million, or $5.48 per Boe, for the prior year quarter. Recurring G&A expenses (defined as Total G&A expenses, exclusive of business combination expenses and non-recurring strategic advisory fees of $2.9 million and $0.3 million for the current year and prior year quarters, respectively, and legal judgments of $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the current year and prior year quarters, respectively) were $11.0 million, or $4.52 per Boe, for the current year quarter compared to Recurring G&A expenses of $8.3 million, or $5.22 per Boe for the prior year quarter. The increase from the prior year is primarily due to the costs of additional personnel, systems costs and other administrative expenses resulting from growth related to the Mid-Con Acquisition and the Silvertip Acquisition, as well as higher non-cash stock-based compensation expense in