Natural Gas

Measurement Conversions
Commercial Energy Services
Notes for Natural Gas Measurement Conversions Table
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.
Selected SI Prefixes
(Also apply to earlier metric systems)
PREFIX SYMBOL MULTIPLYING FACTOR
exa E 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 = 10
18
peta P 1 000 000 000 000 000 = 10
15
tera T 1 000 000 000 000 = 10
12
giga G 1 000 000 000 = 10
9
mega M 1 000 000 = 10
6
kilo k 1 000 = 10
3
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/m
3
(1052.8
Btu/cf) to 37.55 MJ/m
3
(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).
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/m
3
(Canada and USA)
1032 Btu/cf = 38.4 MJ/m
3
(USA)
1034 Btu/cf = 38.5 MJ/m
3
(Canada)
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.
THE TERMS BILLION, TRILLION shall not be
used in SI because of ambiguity in their meaning.
TERM MEANING
Canada MostOther Countries
and USA Including UK & Germany
Million 10
6
10
6
Billion 10
9
10
12
Trillion 10
12
10
18
Quadrillion 10
15
10
24
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8qrk-1002 07-12-01
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.
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 = 10
6
Btu = MMBtu = 1.055 GJ
1 quad = quadrillion Btu = 10
15
Btu = 1.055 x 10
9
GJ = 1.055 x 10
3
PJ = 1.055 EJ
1 Tcf = trillion cubic feet = thousand Bcf = 10
9
Mcf = 28.328 x 10
9
m
3
(*)
1 toe = tonne of oil equivalent = 10
7
kcal = 41.87 GJ
1 Mtoe = 10
6
toe = 10
13
kcal = 41.87 x 10
6
GJ = 41.87 PJ
1 Gtoe = 10
9
toe = 10
16
kcal = 41.87 x 10
9
GJ = 41.87 EJ
1 barrel of crude oil = 5.8 x 10
6
Btu = 5.8 MMBtu = 6.119 GJ
** 38.6 MJ/m
3
= 1036.4 Btu/cf is used
for the volumetric conversions below. See
comments on previous page. Not for use
in billing calculations.
*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 m
3
(@ 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.
ENERGY UNITS USED FOR NATURAL GAS MEASUREMENT *STANDARD VOLUME UNITS FOR BC**
Metric-SI Metric-SI Metric-SI Metric-SI Metric-SI Imperial Imperial Imperial Metric-SI Imperial Imperial Imperial
megajoule gigajoule terajoule petajoule kilowatthour thousand Btu therm million Btu cubic metre thousand cu ft million cu ft billion cu ft
10
6
J 10
9
J 10
12
J 10
15
J 10
3
W.h. 10
3
Btu 10
5
Btu 10
6
Btu 10
3
L 10
3
cf 10
6
cf 10
9
cf
MJ GJ TJ PJ kW.h MBtu therm MMBtu M3 Mcf MMcf Bcf
MJ = 1 = 10
-3
= 10
-6
= 10
-9
= 0.2778 = 0.9478 = 9478 x 10
-3
= 9.478 x 10
-6
= 25.91 x 10
-3
= 914.54 x 10
-6
= 914.54 x 10
-9
= 914.54 x 10
-12
GJ = 10
3
1 10
-3
10
-6
277.78 947.82 9.4782 0.9478 25.907 0.9145 914.54 x 10
-6
914.54 x 10
-9
TJ = 10
6
10
3
1 10
-3
277.8 x 10
3
947.8 x 10
3
9.478 x 10
3
947.82 25.91 x 10
3
914.54 0.9145 914.54 x 10
-6
PJ = 10
9
10
6
10
3
1 277.8 x 10
6
947.8 x 10
6
9.478 x 10
6
947.82 x 10
3
25.91 x 10
6
914.54 x 10
3
914.545 0.9145
kW.h = 3.6 3.6 x 10
-3
3.6 x 10
-6
3.6 x 10
-9
1 3.4121 34.12 x 10
-3
3.412 x 10
-3
93.26 x 10
-3
3.292 x 10
-3
3.292 x 10
-6
3.292 x 10
-9
MBtu = 1.055 1.055 x 10
-3
1.055 x 10
-6
1.055 x 10
-9
0.2931 1 10
-2
10
-3
27.33 x 10
-3
964.9 x 10
-6
964.9 x 10
-9
964.9 x 10
-12
therm = 105.5 0.1055 105.5 x 10
-6
105.5 x 10
-9
29.307 100 1 0.1 2.733 96.49 x 10
-3
96.49 x 10
-6
96.49 x 10
-9
MMBtu = 1.055 x 10
3
1.055 1.055 x 10
-3
1.055 x 10
-6
293.07 10
3
10 1 27.33 0.9649 964.9 x 10
-6
964.9 x 10
-9
m3 = 38.6 38.6 x 10
-3
38.6 x 10
-6
38.6 x 10
-9
10.72 36.586 0.3659 36.59 x 10
-3
1 35.3 x 10
-3
35.3 x 10
-6
35.3 x 10
-9
Mcf = 1.093 x 10
3
1.0935 1.093 x 10
-3
1.093 x 10
-6
303.74 1036.4 10.364 1.0364 28.328 1 10
-3
10
-6
MMcf = 1.093 x 10
6
1.093 x 10
3
1.0935 1.093 x 10
-3
303.7 x 10
3
1.036 x 10
6
10.36 x 10
3
1.036 x 10
3
28.33 x 10
3
10
3
1 10
-3
Bcf = 1.093 x 10
9
1.093 x 10
6
1.0935 x 10
3
1.0935 303.7 x 10
6
1.036 x 10
9
10.36 x 10
6
1.036 x 10
6
28.33 x 10
6
10
6
10
3
1
multiply
to obtain