three months ended September 30, 2025. The average natural gas price increased from $2.20 per Mcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 to $2.63 per Mcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. Production of natural gas from the Subject Interests increased from 5,691,025 Mcf for the three months ended September 30, 2024, to 6,918,497 Mcf for the three months ended September 30, 2025. Production of natural gas from the Subject Interests also increased from 16,743,796 Mcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 to 21,624,972 Mcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Gross Proceeds from Subject Interests. Total Gross Proceeds increased approximately $5.8 million, or 62.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024. Total Gross Proceeds increased approximately $19.4 million or 50.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same time period in 2024. The increases were primarily due to slightly higher natural gas prices and higher production volumes, mainly attributable to the two new horizontal wells installed in 2024.
Capital Expenditures. The timing and size of capital expenditures by Hilcorp have and will continue to impact Net Proceeds. Hilcorp's capital expenditures decreased $6,947,777 for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024, and increased $7,788,545 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same time period in 2024. The decrease in capital costs in the three-month period ended September 30, 2025 was primarily attributable to the reduced expenditures under Hilcorp's 2025 Plan (as defined below). The increase in capital costs in the nine-month period was primarily attributable to Hilcorp's significantly higher capital project spending related to drilling two new horizontal wells in 2024, the costs of which extended into the early part of 2025.
Hilcorp informed the Trust that its 2025 Plan for the Subject Interests includes 29 projects. Approximately $4.0 million of the $9.0 million estimate in the 2025 Plan will be allocated to seven new vertical drill projects, all to be completed in the Dakota/Mesa Verde formations. Approximately $4.5 million of the $9.0 million estimate will be allocated to 22 projects for recompletions and workovers in the Fruitland Coal formation, and approximately $0.5 million of the $9.0 million estimate will be allocated to facilities projects related to natural gas compression and other facility projects. Hilcorp further informed the Trust that its planned project status for 2025 is subject to revision if Hilcorp revises its assumptions underlying the 2025 Plan, and that actual capital costs may vary from these estimates. As of September 30, 2025, Hilcorp advised the Trust that it has spent $7.70 million of the $9.0 million budgeted under the 2025 Plan.
Severance Taxes. Aggregate severance taxes increased approximately $0.5 million, or 48%, for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024 and increased approximately $0.56 million or 11.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same time period during 2024. The increase was primarily attributable to higher Gross Proceeds. Severance taxes represented approximately 11.2% of Gross Proceeds for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to approximately 12.2% for the same period of 2024. Severance taxes represented approximately 9.5% of Gross Proceeds for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and approximately 12.8% for the same period of 2024.
Lease Operating Expenses and Property Taxes. Lease operating expenses and property taxes increased $0.69 million or 9.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, lease operating expenses and property taxes increased approximately $1.17 million or 5% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Excess Production Costs. For the three months ended September 30, 2025, net proceeds of $1,174,206, 75% of which amount would otherwise have been payable to the Trust as Royalty Income, were applied to the balance of Excess Production Costs accrued as a result of Hilcorp's drilling of two new horizontal wells in 2024. The balance of cumulative Excess Production Costs, as of September 30, 2025, was approximately $13,593,734 ($10,195,300 net to the Trust). The Conveyance provides that any Excess Production Costs applicable to the Subject Interests over Gross Proceeds from such properties must be recovered from future Net Proceeds before Royalty Income is again paid to the Trust. The Trust is not obligated to reimburse Hilcorp for any Excess Production Costs if future Gross Proceeds from the Subject Interests are insufficient to cover such costs.
Line of Credit. The Trust is permitted to borrow funds against the Royalty to cover the Trust’s operating expenses. On May 21, 2025, the Trust entered into a promissory note (the “Note”) to establish a line of credit (the “Line of Credit”) in the amount of $2,000,000 with Texas Bank, together with a mortgage to secure that Note. The Line of Credit bears interest at a rate of prime plus 1% per annum (8.5% at June 30, 2025) and matures on May 21, 2027. The Trust is required to make interest-only payments on the Note until May 21, 2027, at which time, the Trust will be required to also make monthly payments toward the principal. The Line of Credit is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Trust, including (a) all mineral interests owned by the Trust, (b) the oil, gas, and other minerals attributable to those mineral interests, (c) the personal property related to those mineral interests, and (d) the proceeds of the sale of the property described in (a) through (c), above. The agreement securing repayment of the Line of Credit contains customary covenants and events of default.
The Line of Credit is intended to cover the Trust’s administrative expenses until the Trust receives Royalty Income in amounts sufficient to (a) repay the balance of Excess Production Costs, (b) replenish a reserve in the amount of $2,000,000, and (c) repay the Note in full, after which time, the Trust will resume distributions to the holders of the Trust’s Units of beneficial interest. The Trust