Natural Gas And Coal Measurements And Conversions

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Natural Gas and Coal Measurements and Conversions

Natural gas measurements and conversions*

1 cubic foot, dry = 1,036 Btu 1 cubic foot, dry = 1,093 kilojoules 1 pound = 23,726 Btu, HHV ** 1 pound = 21,240 Btu, LHV ** 1 million cubic feet = 1,036 million Btu 1 metric ton liquefied natural gas (LNG) = 48,057 cubic feet of natural gas

1 billion cubic meters NG = 35.315 billion cubic feet NG 1 billion cubic meters NG = .86 million metric tons oil equivalent 1 billion cubic meters NG = .735 million metric tons LNG 1 billion cubic meters NG = 34.121 trillion Btu 1 billion cubic meters NG = 5.883 million barrel oil equivalent

1 billion cubic feet NG = .028 billion cubic meters NG 1 billion cubic feet NG = .024 million metric tons oil equivalent 1 billion cubic feet NG = .021 million metric LNG 1 billion cubic feet NG = .966 trillion Btu 1 billion cubic feet NG = .167 million barrels oil equivalent

1 million metric tons LNG = 1.36 billion cubic meters NG 1 million metric tons LNG =  48.028 billion cubic feet NG 1 million metric tons LNG = 1.169 million metric tons oil equivalent 1 million metric tons LNG = 46.405 trillion Btu 1 million metric tons LNG = 8.001 million barrel oil equivalent

1 million metric tons oil equivalent = 1.163 billion cubic meters NG 1 million metric tons oil equivalent = 41.071 billion cubic feet NG 1 million metric tons oil equivalent = .855 million tons LNG 1 million metric tons oil equivalent = 39.683 trillion Btu 1 million metric tons oil equivalent = 6.842 million barrel oil equivalent

1 million barrel oil equivalent = .17 billion cubic meters NG 1 million barrel oil equivalent = 6.003 billion cubic feet NG 1 million barrel oil equivalent = .146 million tons oil equivalent 1 million barrel oil equivalent = .125 million metric tons of LNG 1 million barrel oil equivalent = 5.8 trillion Btu

1 trillion Btu = .029 billion cubic meters NG 1 trillion Btu = 1.035 billion cubic feet NG 1 trillion Btu = .025 million metric tons oil equivalent 1 trillion Btu = .022 million metric tons LNG 1 trillion Btu = .17 million barrels oil equivalent 1 cubic foot = .0283 cubic meters 1 cubic meter, dry = 36,608 Btu 1 cubic meter, dry = 38.622 megajoules 1 cubic meter = 35.314 cubic feet

Coal measurements and conversions*

1 pound = 9,410 Btu 1 pound of coal = 9.928 megajoules 1 short ton (2,000 lbs.) of coal = 18,820,000 Btu 1 short ton = 19,856 megajoules 1 short ton = .9072 metric tons 1 metric ton = 1.102 short tons 1 metric ton = 20,745,150Btu 1 metric ton = 21,887 megajoules 1 barrel oil equivalent = approximately .20 metric tons of hard coal 1 barrel oil equivalent = approximately .42 metric tons of lignite coal 1 metric ton oil equivalent = approximately 1.5 metric tons of hard coal 1 metric ton oil equivalent = approximately 3 metrics tons of lignite coal 1 metric ton hard coal = approximately 5 barrels oil equivalent 1 metric ton hard coal = approximately .67 metric tons of oil equivalent 1 metric ton lignite coal = approximately 2.5 barrels oil equivalent 1 metric ton lignite coal = approximately .33 metric tons of oil equivalent

* Conversions based on most recent heat content data from EIA, 2022-2024, if available.

** Energy contents are expressed as either High (gross) Heating Value (HHV) or Lower (net) Heating Value (LHV). LHV is closest to the actual energy yield in most cases. HHV (including condensation of combustion products) is greater by between 5% (in the case of coal) and 10% (for natural gas), depending mainly on the hydrogen content of the fuel. For most biomass feed-stocks this difference appears to be 6-7%. The appropriateness of using LHV or HHV when comparing fuels, calculating thermal efficiencies, etc. really depends upon the application. For stationary combustion where exhaust gases are cooled before discharging (e.g. power stations), HHV is more appropriate. Where no attempt is made to extract useful work from hot exhaust gases (e.g. motor vehicles), the LHV is more suitable. In practice, many European publications report LHV, whereas North American publications use HHV

References

Biomass Energy Datebook, U.S. Department of Energy BP Conversion Factors Energy Information Administration Energy Information Administration - Energy Kids Science Direct, Biomass Fuels United States Census Bureau, Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy

Don Hofstrand, retired extension agricultural business specialist, [email protected]