A – CONVERSION FACTORS

Clickable list
Think SI A-1
Length A-3
Volume A-4
Mass A-5
Force A-6
Pressure A-7
Pressure gradients/Density A-8
Power A-9
Heat, Energy & Work A-10
Temperature A-11
API Gravity A-12
Buoyancy factors A-13

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 i

 Think SI

Base units Derived units

In SI there are 7 base units from which Quantity Name of Symbol

all the other units can be derived or unit
computed.
Area square metre m2
The 7 base units are: Volume cubic metre m3
Velocity metre per m/s
Quantity Name of Symbol second
unit
1. Length metre m Acceleration metre per m/s2
2. Mass kilogram kg second2
3. Time second s Density kilogram per kg/m3
4. Electric ampere A cubic metre
current
5. Temperature kelvin or K Frequency hertz Hz
degree Force newton N
Celsius °C
6. Amount of mole mol Pressure pascal Pa
substance (N/m2)
7. Luminous candela cd Energy joule J (N-m)
intensity
Power watt W (J/s)
Supplementary : Electric volt V (W/A)
Plane angle radian rad potential
Solid angle steradian sr

Used alone or in combinations these

base units enable us to make any
measurement we need in any field of
endeavour.

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 A–1

 Think SI

Prefixes Force, Work, Torque and Power

The value of most SI units can be Mass is the quantity of matter in an

changed by the simple placing of a object and is constant on earth
prefix in front of the unit name. as well as in space.
Units of mass: kg kilogram
Prefix Symbol Value Factor t metric tonne
giga G 1,000,000,000 109 1 t=l,000 kg
mega M 1,000,000 106
kilo k 1,000 103
Force F = m x a
hecto h 100 102
Force = mass x acceleration
deca da 10 10
Unit of force: N newton
deci d 0.1 10-1
(N = kg.m.s-2)
centi c 0.01 10-2
Practical use: daN decanewton
milli m 0.001 10-3
kN kilonewton
micro m 0.000 001 10-6
MN meganewton
Examples
one gigapascal 1 GPa =1,000,000,000 Pa Work Energy is force x distance (N.m)
one kilometre 1 km =1,000 m Unit of work: J Joule
one decanewton 1 daN =10 N Practical use: kJ kilojoule
one milligram 1 mg =0.001 g MJ megajoule
one micrometre 1 mm =0.000 001 m
one square kilometre 1 km2 =106 m2 Torque Unit: N.m newton-metre
one cubic megametre 1 Mm3 =1018 m3
Power is the work per unit time
Unit of power: W watt
Practical use: kW kilowatt
MW megawatt

A–2 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 LENGTH (I)

To Metres Kilometres Inches Feet Miles Miles

(statute) (nautical)
From
1 metre 1 1 x 10-3 39.37 3.281 621.4 x 10-6 539.6 x 10-6
1 kilometre 1 x 103 1 39.37 x 103 3.281 x 103 621.4 x 10-3 539.6 x 10-3
1 inch 25.4 x 10-3 25.4 x 10-6 1 83.33 x 10-3 15.78 x 10-6 13.71 x 10-6

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

1 foot 304.8 x 10-3 304.8 x 10-6 12 1 189.4 x 10-6 164.5 x 10-6
1 mile 1.609 x 103 1.609 63.36 x 103 5.28 x 103 1 868.4 x 10-3
(statute)
1 mile 1.853 x 103 1.853 72.96 x 103 6.08 x 103 1.152 1
(nautical)

A–3
 CONVERSION FACTORS

A–4
VOLUME (l3)

To Cubic Cubic Cubic Cubic Gallons Gallons Barrels

metres decimetres centimetres feet (imp) (US liquid)
From
1 cubic metre 1 1 x 103 1 x 106 35.31 220 264.2 6.29
1 cubic 1 x 10-3 1 1 x 103 35.31 x 10-3 220 x 10-3 264.2 x 10-3 6.29 x 10-3
decimetre
1 cubic 1 x 10-6 1 x 10-3 1 35.31 x 10-6 220 x 10-6 264.2 x 10-6 6.29 x 10-6
centimetre
1 cubic foot 28.32 x 10-3 28.32 28.32 x 103 1 6.229 7.481 178.1 x 10-3
1 gallon (imp) 4.546 x 10-3 4.546 4.536 x 103 160.5 x 10-3 1 1.201 28.59 x 10-3
1 gallon 3.785 x 10-3 3.785 3.785 x 103 133.7 x 10-3 832.7 x 10-3 1 23.81 x 10-3
(US liquid)
1barrel 159 x 10-3 159 159 x 103 5.615 34.97 42 1

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 CONVERSION FACTORS
MASS (m)

To Kilograms Pounds Tons Tons Tons

(metric) (long) (short)
From
1 kilogram 1 2.205 1 x 10-3 984.2 x 10-6 1.102 x 10-3
1 pound 453.6 x 10-3 1 453.6 x 10-6 446.4 x 10-6 500 x 10-6

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

1 ton (metric) 1 x 103 2.205 x 103 1 984.2 x 10-3 1.102
1ton (long) 1.016 x 103 2.240 x 103 1.016 1 1.12
1ton (short) 907.2 2 x 103 907.2 x 10-3 892.9 x 10-3 1

A–5
 CONVERSION FACTORS

A–6
FORCE (m.l.t-2)

To Newtons Dynes Kilogram Poundals Pounds 1 x 103 daN

force force (kdaN)
From
1 newton 1 100 x 103 102 x 10-3 7.233 224.8 x 10-3 0.1 x 10-3
1 dyne 10 x 10-6 1 1.02 x 10-6 72.33 x 10-6 2.248 x 10-6 1 x 10-9
1 kilogram 9.807 980.7 x 103 1 70.93 2.205 0.981 x 10-3
force
1 poundal 138.4 x 10-3 13.84 x 103 14.10 x 10-3 1 31.08 x 10-3 13.83 x 10-6
1 pound 4.448 444.8 x 103 453.6 x 10-3 32.17 1 0.445 x 10-3
force
1 x 103 daN 10 x 103 1 x 109 1.02 x 103 72.33 x 103 2.248 x 103 1

NOTE: 1) Conversion factors based on g = 9.807 m/s2 = 32.174 ft/s2

2) Pound signifies pound (avdp)

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 CONVERSION FACTORS
PRESSURE

To convert from To Multiply by

psi kPa 6.895
bar 0.06895
kg/cm2 0.07037
m H2O (15°C) 0.7037*
ft H2O (39°F) 2.307*
kPa psi 0.1450
bar 0.01
kg/cm2 0.01020
m H2O (15°C) 0.1021*
ft H2O (39°F) 0.3346*
bar psi 14.50
kPa 100
kg/cm2 1.020
m H2O (15°C) 10.21*
ft H2O (39°F) 33.46*
kg/cm2 psi 14.22
kPa 98.07
bar 0.9807
m H2O (15°C) 10.01*
ft H2O (39°F) 32.81*
m H2O (15°C) psi 1.421
kPa 9.798*
bar 0.09798*
kg/cm2 0.09991*
ft H2O (39°F) 3.278
ft H2O (39°F) psi 0.4335*
kPa 2.989*
bar 0.02989*
kg/cm2 0.03048*
m H2O (15°C) 0.3051

Notes : * There is no direct conversion between pressure and heights

of fluid head. P = ρgh has been used to obtain multiplication
factors indicated by ‘*’. The fluid density (ρ) depends upon
temperature.
Conversion between metres and feet is based on 1 ft = 0.3048 m.
The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal.

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 A–7

 PRESSURE GRADIENTS & FLUID DENSITY

To convert from to Multiply by

psi/ft kPa/m 22.62
bar/10m 2.262
lb/gal (US) 19.25*
lb/ft3 144.0*
kg/dm3 2.307*
bar/10m kPa/m 10.0
psi/ft 0.4421

For the definition of API Gravity see page A-12

lb/gal (US) 8.51*
lb/ft3 63.66*
kg/dm3 1.020*
kPa/m bar/10m 0.10
psi/ft 0.0442
lb/gal (US) 0.851*
lb/ft3 6.366*
kg/dm3 0.1020*
lb/gal(US) kPa/m 1.175*
bar/10m 0.1175*
psi/ft 0.0519*
lb/ft3 7.481
kg/dm3 0.1198
lb/ft3 kPa/m 0.1571*
bar/10m 0.01571*
psi/ft 0.00694*
lb/gal (US) 0.1337
kg/dm3 0.01602
kg/dm3 kPa/m 9.807*
bar/10m 0.9807*
psi/ft 0.4335*
lb/gal (US) 8.345
lb/ft3 62.43

NOTES: * There is no direct conversion between densities and pressure gradients.

The relationship P = ρgh has been used to obtain multiplication factors
indicated by (*).

The SI units of pressure gradient are kPa/m

The SI units of density are kg/m3

In this book we assume that one litre water at 4°C and 1 Atm.
(=101.3 kPa =14.7 psi ) equals one dm3 water at 4°C and 1 Atm.
although we know this is not exactly the same . (The difference
between them is less then 0.003%) We take this liberty because it
helps simplifying our calculations.

A–8 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 CONVERSION FACTORS
POWER (m.l2.t-3)

To Watts Foot-Pounds Horsepower Horsepower British Thermal

per second (metric) (british) Units/sec
From
1 watt 1 0.7376 1.36 x 10-3 1.341 x 10-3 948 x 10-6
1 foot-pound/sec 1.356 1 1.843 x 10-3 1.818 x 10-3 1.285 x 10-3

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

1 horsepower 735.5 542.5 1 986.3 697.2 x 10-3
(metric)
1 horsepower 745.7 550 1.014 1 7.07 x 10-3
(british)
1 British thermal 10.055 778 1.434 1.415 1
unit/sec

NOTES : 1) Conversion factors based on g = 9.807 m/sec2 = 32.174 ft/sec2

2) Pound signifies pound (avdp)
3) Horsepower (metric) = Cheval vapeur

A–9
 CONVERSION FACTORS

A–10
HEAT, ENERGY AND WORK (m.l2.t-2)

Joules Kilowatt Calories Foot Horsepower Horsepower BTU

hours pounds hours (metric) hours (british)

1 joule 1 277.8 x 10-9 238.8 x 10-3 737.6 x 10-3 377.7 x 10-9 372.5 x 10-9 947.8 x 10-6
1 kilowatt hour 3.60 x 106 1 859.8 x 103 2.655 x 106 1.360 1.341 3.412 x 103
1 calorie 4.187 1.163 x 10-6 1 3.088 1.581 x 10-6 156.0 x 10-6 3.968 x 10-3
1 foot pound 1.356 376.6 x 10-9 323.8 x 10-3 1 512.1 x 10-9 505.1 x 10-9 1.285 x 10-3
1 horsepower 2.648 x 106 735.5 x 10-3 632.4 x 103 1.953 x 106 1 986.3 x 10-3 2.510 x 103
hour (metric)
1 horsepower 2.685 x 106 745.7 x 10-3 641.2 x 103 1.980 x 106 1.014 1 2.544 x 103
hour (british)
1 BTU 1.055 x 103 293.1 x 10-6 252 778.2 398.5 x 10-6 393.0 x 10-6 1

NOTE: 1) Conversion factors based on g = 9.807 m/s2 = 32.174 ft/s2

2) Pound signifies pound (avdp)
3) Horsepower (metric) = Cheval vapeur

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 CONVERSION FACTORS
TEMPERATURE

water freezing water boiling

Celcius (C) 0 100

Reaumur (Re) 0 80
Fahrenheit (F) 32 212
Kelvin (K) 273 373
Rankine (R) 492 672

From: C° x 0.8 = Re°

C° x 1.8 + 32 = F°
C°
C° + 273 = K
C° x 1.8 + 492 = R°

Re° x 1.25 = C°
Re° Re° x 2.25 + 32 = F°
Re° x 1.25 + 273 = K
Re° x 2.25 + 492 = R°

(F° - 32) / 1.8 = C°

(F° - 32) x 0.444 = Re°
F°
(F° - 32) / 1.8 + 273 = K
F° + 460 = R°

K - 273 = C°
(K - 273) x 0.8 = Re°
K
(K - 273) x 1.8 + 32 = F°
(K - 273) x 1.8 + 492 = R°

(R° - 492) / 1.8 = C°

(R° - 492) x 0.444 = Re°
R°
R° - 460 = F°
(R° - 492) / 1.8 + 273 = K

NOTE : TR° = tF°+ 459.67

TK = tC°+ 273.15

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 A–11

 API GRAVITY

As crude is not normally specified in our standard units, but in API gravity,
the equations for conversion are as follows :

SG, crude = 141.5 (kg/litre)

°API + 131.5
Gradient = 141.5 x 0.4335 (psi/ft)
°API + 131.5

General classification with respect to API gravity:

°API Crude oil

< 20 Heavy
20 - 30 Medium
>30 Light

A–12 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 BUOYANCY FACTORS
Corresponding to drilling fluid densities expressed in various units

In kg/m3 BF In ppg BF In lbs/ft3 BF In psi/ft BF In kPa/m BF

1,000 0.872 8.35 0.872 62.4 0.873 0.434 0.872 9.8 0.872
1,020 0.870 8.40 0.872 63.0 0.871 0.440 0.871 10.0 0.870
1,040 0.867 8.60 0.869 64.0 0.869 0.450 0.868 10.2 0.867
1,060 0.865 8.80 0.866 65.0 0.867 0.460 0.865 10.4 0.865
1,080 0.862 9.00 0.862 66.0 0.865 0.470 0.862 10.6 0.862
1,100 0.860 9.20 0.859 67.0 0.863 0.480 0.859 10.8 0.860
1,120 0.857 9.40 0.856 68.0 0.861 0.490 0.856 11.0 0.857
1,140 0.855 9.60 0.853 69.0 0.859 0.500 0.853 11.2 0.854
1,160 0.852 9.80 0.850 70.0 0.857 0.510 0.850 11.4 0.852
1,180 0.850 10.00 0.847 72.0 0.853 0.520 0.847 11.6 0.849
1,200 0.847 10.20 0.844 74.0 0.849 0.530 0.844 11.8 0.847
1,220 0.844 10.40 0.841 76.0 0.845 0.540 0.841 12.0 0.844
1,240 0.842 10.60 0.838 78.0 0.841 0.550 0.838 12.2 0.841
1,260 0.839 10.80 0.835 80.0 0.837 0.560 0.835 12.4 0.839
1,280 0.837 11.00 0.832 82.0 0.832 0.570 0.832 12.6 0.836
1,300 0.834 11.20 0.829 84.0 0.828 0.580 0.829 12.8 0.834
1,320 0.832 11.40 0.826 86.0 0.824 0.590 0.826 13.0 0.831
1,340 0.829 11.60 0.823 88.0 0.820 0.600 0.824 13.2 0.828
1,360 0.827 11.80 0.820 90.0 0.816 0.610 0.821 13.4 0.826
1,380 0.824 12.00 0.817 92.0 0.812 0.620 0.818 13.6 0.823
1,400 0.821 12.20 0.814 94.0 0.808 0.630 0.815 13.8 0.821
1,420 0.819 12.40 0.810 96.0 0.804 0.640 0.812 14.0 0.818
1,440 0.816 12.60 0.807 98.0 0.800 0.650 0.809 14.2 0.815
1,460 0.814 12.80 0.804 100.0 0.796 0.660 0.806 14.4 0.813
1,480 0.811 13.00 0.801 102.0 0.792 0.670 0.803 14.6 0.810
1,500 0.809 13.20 0.798 104.0 0.788 0.680 0.800 14.8 0.808
1,550 0.802 13.40 0.795 106.0 0.783 0.690 0.797 15.0 0.805
1,600 0.796 13.60 0.792 108.0 0.779 0.700 0.794 15.5 0.798
1,650 0.790 13.80 0.789 110.0 0.775 0.720 0.788 16.0 0.792
1,700 0.783 14.00 0.786 112.0 0.771 0.740 0.782 16.5 0.785
1,750 0.777 14.20 0.783 114.0 0.767 0.760 0.776 17.0 0.779
1,800 0.770 14.40 0.780 116.0 0.763 0.780 0.771 17.5 0.772
1,850 0.764 14.60 0.777 118.0 0.759 0.800 0.765 18.0 0.766
1,900 0.758 14.80 0.774 120.0 0.755 0.820 0.759 18.5 0.759
1,950 0.751 15.00 0.771 122.0 0.751 0.840 0.753 19.0 0.753
2,000 0.745 15.50 0.763 124.0 0.747 0.860 0.747 19.5 0.746
2,050 0.739 16.00 0.755 126.0 0.743 0.880 0.741 20.0 0.740
2,100 0.732 16.50 0.748 128.0 0.739 0.900 0.735 20.5 0.733
2,150 0.726 17.00 0.740 130.0 0.734 0.920 0.729 21.0 0.727
2,200 0.719 17.50 0.733 132.0 0.730 0.940 0.723 21.5 0.720
2,250 0.713 18.00 0.725 134.0 0.726 0.960 0.718 22.0 0.714
2,300 0.707 18.50 0.717 136.0 0.722 0.980 0.712 22.5 0.707
2,350 0.700 19.00 0.710 138.0 0.718 1.000 0.706 23.0 0.701
2,400 0.694 19.50 0.702 140.0 0.714 1.020 0.700 23.5 0.694
2,450 0.688 20.00 0.694 145.0 0.704 1.040 0.694 24.0 0.688
2,500 0.681 20.50 0.687 150.0 0.694 1.060 0.688 24.5 0.681
2,550 0.675 21.00 0.679 155.0 0.683 1.080 0.682 25.0 0.675
2,600 0.668 21.50 0.671 160.0 0.673 1.100 0.676 25.5 0.668
2,650 0.662 22.00 0.664 165.0 0.663 1.150 0.662 26.0 0.662
7,842 65.43 489.5 3.400 76.90

Note: These buoyancy factors are only applicable for steel components
The density of steel in the various units is
shown on the bottom line of the tables.

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 A–13