Gas Measurement

MCF to MMBTU Conversion

Convert natural gas volume to energy content using heating value, gas composition, and custody transfer standards for accurate billing, contract management, and energy accounting per AGA and GPA standards.

Launch Calculator Heating values

Pipeline quality gas

1,038 Btu/scf

EIA average. Typical range: 1,000-1,050 Btu/scf. Contract standard often 1,000 or 1,030 Btu/scf.

Conversion factor

1 MCF ≈ 1.038 MMBTU

At 1,038 Btu/scf: 1 MCF = 1.038 MMBTU. For 1,000 Btu/scf: 1 MCF = 1 MMBTU exactly.

Billing units

$/MMBTU or $/MCF

Pipeline tariffs quote $/MMBTU (energy). Wellhead sales often $/MCF (volume).

Contents

Quick start

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Convert between MCF and MMBTU for accurate gas volume and energy accounting.

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1. Unit Definitions

Natural gas is measured by volume (at standard conditions) and sold by energy content. Understanding the relationship between these units is essential for gas measurement, contracts, and billing.

Volume Units

Abbreviation Name Value
scf Standard cubic foot 1 ft³ at standard conditions
MCF Thousand standard cubic feet 1,000 scf
MMCF Million standard cubic feet 1,000,000 scf
BCF Billion standard cubic feet 10⁹ scf
TCF Trillion standard cubic feet 10¹² scf

Energy Units

Abbreviation Name Value
BTU British Thermal Unit Energy to heat 1 lb water by 1°F
MMBTU Million BTU 1,000,000 BTU
Therm Therm 100,000 BTU = 0.1 MMBTU
Dth Dekatherm 1,000,000 BTU = 1 MMBTU
GJ Gigajoule 947,817 BTU ≈ 0.948 MMBTU
Note on "M" prefix: In oil and gas, "M" means thousand (Roman numeral), not million. MCF = 1,000 cf. "MM" means million (M × M). MMBTU = 1,000,000 BTU.

2. Conversion Calculations

Basic Conversion

Energy = Volume × Heating Value MMBTU = MCF × (HHV / 1,000) Where: HHV = Higher Heating Value (BTU/scf) MCF = Volume (thousand standard cubic feet) For typical pipeline gas (HHV = 1,038 BTU/scf per EIA): MMBTU = MCF × 1.038 MCF = MMBTU / 1.038 = MMBTU × 0.963

Quick Reference Conversions

From To Multiply by
MCF MMBTU HHV/1000 (≈1.038)
MMBTU MCF 1000/HHV (≈0.963)
MMCF MMBTU HHV/1000 × 1000 (≈1,038)
MMBTU Therms 10
MMBTU GJ 1.055
MCF Therms HHV/100 (≈10.38)

Example Calculations

Example 1: Convert 50 MMCFD to MMBTU/day (HHV = 1,035 BTU/scf)

Energy = 50,000 MCF × (1,035 / 1,000)
Energy = 50,000 × 1.035 = 51,750 MMBTU/day

Example 2: Gas sales at $3.50/MMBTU, 100 MCF delivered (HHV = 1,020)

MMBTU = 100 × 1.020 = 102 MMBTU
Revenue = 102 × $3.50 = $357.00

3. Heating Values

Heating value is the energy released when gas is burned completely. It varies with gas composition.

HHV vs LHV

Higher Heating Value (HHV): Also called Gross Heating Value Includes latent heat of water vapor condensation Used in US gas measurement and sales Lower Heating Value (LHV): Also called Net Heating Value Excludes water vapor latent heat Used in efficiency calculations, some international markets Relationship: LHV ≈ HHV × 0.90 (for natural gas)

Component Heating Values

Component HHV (BTU/scf) LHV (BTU/scf)
Methane (C₁) 1,010 909
Ethane (C₂) 1,770 1,619
Propane (C₃) 2,516 2,314
n-Butane (C₄) 3,262 3,010
i-Butane 3,252 3,000
n-Pentane (C₅) 4,008 3,706
Hexane+ (C₆+) 4,756 4,403
Nitrogen (N₂) 0 0
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) 0 0
Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) 637 586

Mixture Heating Value

Mixture HHV (molar basis): HHV_mix = Σ (y_i × HHV_i) Where: y_i = Mole fraction of component i HHV_i = Heating value of component i (BTU/scf) Example: 95% CH₄, 3% C₂H₆, 2% N₂ HHV = 0.95×1010 + 0.03×1770 + 0.02×0 HHV = 959.5 + 53.1 + 0 = 1,013 BTU/scf

Typical Gas Heating Values

Gas Type HHV Range (BTU/scf)
Dry pipeline gas 1,000–1,050
Rich (wet) gas 1,100–1,400
Lean gas (high N₂) 850–950
Associated gas 1,200–1,600
LNG (regasified) 1,000–1,100
Biogas/RNG 950–1,000

4. Measurement Standards

Standard conditions define the reference temperature and pressure for volume measurement.

Common Standard Conditions

Standard Temperature Pressure Usage
US Oil & Gas 60°F (15.56°C) 14.73 psia Most US pipelines, FERC
Texas/Oklahoma 60°F 14.65 psia Some state regulations
ISO 13443 15°C (59°F) 101.325 kPa International
Metric (Normal) 0°C (32°F) 101.325 kPa Some European

Correction Between Standards

Volume correction between base conditions: V₂ = V₁ × (P₁/P₂) × (T₂/T₁) × (Z₁/Z₂) Pressure correction (14.73 to 14.65 psia): V_14.65 = V_14.73 × (14.73/14.65) = V_14.73 × 1.0055 Energy is unaffected: MMBTU stays constant regardless of volume base (HHV adjusts inversely with volume)

⚠ Contract verification: Always confirm standard conditions in gas purchase/sale agreements. A 0.5% difference in pressure base equals 0.5% difference in measured volume and billing.

5. Applications

Gas Sales and Billing

  • Volumetric sales: Price per MCF (requires defined heating value)
  • Energy sales: Price per MMBTU (independent of composition)
  • Thermal billing: Price per therm (residential/commercial)

Wobbe Index

Wobbe Index: WI = HHV / √SG Where: SG = Specific gravity (air = 1.0) Purpose: Indicates gas interchangeability for burners Typical range: 1,310–1,390 BTU/scf for US pipeline gas

Daily/Monthly Conversions

Rate Conversion
MMCFD to MMBTU/day × HHV/1000 × 1000 (≈ × HHV)
MMCFD to MMBTU/month × HHV × days in month
MMBTU/year to MMCFD ÷ HHV ÷ 365

Fuel Gas Calculations

Problem: A compressor station requires 500 HP. Estimate fuel gas at 8,500 BTU/HP-hr heat rate.

Heat input = 500 HP × 8,500 BTU/HP-hr = 4.25 MMBTU/hr
Daily = 4.25 × 24 = 102 MMBTU/day
At HHV = 1,020 BTU/scf:
Fuel gas = 102,000 / 1.020 = 100 MCF/day

References

  • GPA 2145 – Physical Constants for Paraffin Hydrocarbons
  • GPA 2172 – Calculation of Gross Heating Value
  • AGA Report No. 5 – Natural Gas Energy Measurement
  • ISO 6976 – Natural Gas Calculation of Calorific Values

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