Notes for Natural Gas Measurement Conversions Table

Gas Heating Value in BC

Gas heating value in BC varies with the geographic location. It varies from a higher heating value (HHV) of 39.21 MJ/m3 (1052.8 Btu/cf) to 37.55 MJ/m3 (1008.2 Btu/cf).

Fuel Requirement Calculations

Keep in mind the difference between LHV and HHV in making fuel calculations: It is general practice in the industry to calculate gas turbine and gas engine performance on the basis of the lower heating value (LHV) of the fuel to be burned whereas typical heating applications and purchase contracts are figured on the basis of higher heating value (HHV). LHF is generally used in power generation because the latent heating value of the water vapour cannot be captured. However, condensing appliances (boilers, furnaces) can capture and use the latent heating value of water vapour. In practical terms, you must increase the LHV based fuel consumption by a factor of 1.11 (approximate for natural gas).

Commercial Energy Services

General Reference Heating Values
Frequently, for an order of magnitude calculations and comparison of various energy sources the following higher heating values (HHV) are used for natural gas: 1000 Btu/cf = 37.2 MJ/m3 (Canada and USA) 1032 Btu/cf = 38.4 MJ/m3 (USA) 1034 Btu/cf = 38.5 MJ/m3 (Canada)

Natural Gas Measurement Conversions

Heating Value Definition

Higher HeatingValue (HHV) Gross Heating Value (GHV) Gross Calorific Value (GCV) Total Calorific Value (TCV) These terms are equivalents. Needless to say however, that HHV is a term in the metric SI and is used more frequently. The HHV can be defined as the total heat obtained from combustion of a specified amount of fuel and its stoichiometrically correct amount of air, both being at 60F when combustion starts, and the combustion products being cooled to 60F before heat release is measured. By contrast see lower or net heating value. Gas is sold on the higher heating value (HHV) basis. Lower Heating Value (LHV) Net Heating Value (NHV) Net Calorific Value (NCV) Lower (net) heating value is the higher (gross) heating value minus the latent heat of vaporization of the water vapour formed by the combustion of the hydrogen in the fuel. A rule of thumb for natural gas is HHV = LHV x 1.11.

Selected SI Prefixes (Also apply to earlier metric s ystems)

PREFIX SYMBOL MULTIPLYING FACTOR

exa peta tera giga kilo

E P T G k

1 000 000 000 000 000 000 = 1018 1 000 000 000 000 000 = 1015 1 000 000 000 000 = 1012 1 000 000 000 = 10 9 1 000 000 = 10 6 1 000 = 10 3

mega M

THE TERMS BILLION, TRILLION shall not be used in SI because of ambiguity in their meaning. TERM
Canada and USA Million Billion Trillion Quadrillion 106 109 1012 1015

MEANING
MostOther Countries Including UK & Germany 10 6 1012 1018 1024

For more information and technical assistance, please contact Bill Hennessey, Transportation and Marketing Services, (604) 592-7916.
This information herein is a guide only. BC Gas is not responsible for the accuracy and cannot accept any legal responsibility for any errors that may be made.

NATURAL GAS MEASUREMENT CONVERSIONS

Quantity of natural gas is measured in energy units or in volume units. BC Gas billing is in energy units gigajoules. Because the actual gas volume changes with gas pressure and temperature, the volume measurements are always coverted to Standard Gas Conditions. *Metric Standard gas conditions 101.325 kilopascals and 15C (dry) (14.696 psia and 59F) *Imperial Standard gas conditions 14.73 psia and 60F (dry) (101.560 kilopascals and 15.56C) 1 m3 (@ metric std) = 35.315 x 0.9996 = 35.301 cf (@ Imperial std) The difference resulting from different standard conditions is quite small and for approximate calculations can be neglected. ** 38.6 MJ/m3 = 1036.4 Btu/cf is used for the volumetric conversions below. See comments on previous page. Not for use in billing calculations.

ENERGY UNITS USED FOR NATURAL GAS MEASUREMENT

to obtain

*STANDARD VOLUME UNITS FOR BC**

Imperial therm 105 Btu therm Imperial million Btu 106 Btu MMBtu 9.478 x 10 -6 = 0.9478 947.82 947.82 x 103 3.412 x 10 -3 10-3 0.1 1 36.59 x 10 -3 1.0364 1.036 x 10 3 1.036 x 10 6 Metric-SI 10 3 L M3 Imperial 10 3 cf Mcf Imperial 10 6 cf MMcf Imperial billion cu ft 10 9 cf Bcf cubic metre thousand cu ft million cu ft

Metric-SI megajoule 106 J

Metric-SI gigajoule 109 J GJ = 10 -3 1 10 3 106 3.6 x 10 -3 1.055 x 10 -3 0.1055 1.055 38.6 x 10 -3 1.0935 1.093 x 10 3 1.093 x 10 6 = 10-6 10-3 1 103

Metric-SI terajoule 1012 J TJ = 10-9 10-6 10-3 1

Metric-SI petajoule 10 15 J PJ =

Metric-SI 103 W.h. kW.h 0.2778 277.78 277.8 x 10 3 277.8 x 10 6 1 0.2931 29.307 293.07 10.72 303.74 303.7 x 10 3 303.7 x 10 6 =

Imperial 103 Btu MBtu 0.9478 947.82 947.8 x 10 3 947.8 x 10 6 3.4121 1 100 103 36.586 1036.4 1.036 x 10 6 1.036 x 10 9

kilowatthour thousand Btu

multiply

MJ = = = = = = = 1 10 3 10 6 109 3.6 1.055 105.5 1.055 x 10 3 38.6 1.093 x 10 3 1.093 x 10 6 1.093 x 10 9

MJ GJ TJ PJ kW.h MBtu therm

= 9478 x 10-3 = 9.4782 9.478 x 10 3 9.478 x 10 6 34.12 x 10 -3 10-2 1 10 0.3659 10.364 10.36 x 10 3 10.36 x 10 6

25.91 x 10 -3 = 914.54 x 10 -6 = 914.54 x 10-9 = 914.54 x 10 -12 25.907 25.91 x 10 3 25.91 x 10 6 93.26 x 10 -3 27.33 x 10 -3 2.733 27.33 1 28.328 28.33 x 10 3 28.33 x 10 6 0.9145 914.54 914.54 x 10 3 3.292 x 10 -3 964.9 x 10 -6 96.49 x 10 -3 0.9649 35.3 x 10 -3 1 103 106 914.54 x 10 -6 0.9145 914.545 3.292 x 10 -6 964.9 x 10 -9 96.49 x 10 -6 964.9 x 10 -6 35.3 x 10 -6 10-3 1 103 914.54 x 10 -9 914.54 x 10 -6 0.9145 3.292 x 10 -9 964.9 x 10 -12 96.49 x 10 -9 964.9 x 10 -9 35.3 x 10 -9 10-6 10-3 1

3.6 x 10 -6 1.055 x 10 -6 105.5 x 10 -6 1.055 x 10 -3 38.6 x 10 -6 1.093 x 10 -3 1.0935 1.0935 x 10 3

3.6 x 10 -9 1.055 x 10 -9 105.5 x 10 -9 1.055 x 10 -6 38.6 x 10 -9 1.093 x 10 -6 1.093 x 10 -3 1.0935

MMBtu = m3 Mcf MMcf Bcf = = = =

Note: All Btu and kcal are International Table units. 1 kcal = 4.187 kJ = 4.187 x 10-3 MJ = 1.163 x 10-3 kW.h = 3.968 Btu = 4.187 x 10 -6 GJ 1 Dth = decatherm = 10 therms = 106 Btu = MMBtu = 1.055 GJ 1 quad = quadrillion Btu = 1015 Btu = 1.055 x 109 GJ = 1.055 x 103 PJ = 1.055 EJ 1 Tcf = trillion cubic feet = thousand Bcf = 109 Mcf = 28.328 x 109m3 (*)

1 toe = tonne of oil equivalent = 107 kcal = 41.87 GJ 1 Mtoe = 10 6 toe = 10 13 kcal = 41.87 x 106 GJ = 41.87 PJ 1 Gtoe = 10 9 toe = 10 16 kcal = 41.87 x 109 GJ = 41.87 EJ 1 barrel of crude oil = 5.8 x 106 Btu = 5.8 MMBtu = 6.119 GJ
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