Katerina Swanson
A barrel of oil is equal to 42 US gallons or 159 litres. However, the amount of fuel in a barrel can vary depending on the type of fuel and the location of the refinery. On average, one barrel of oil produces about 19 to 20 gallons of gasoline and 11 to 13 gallons of distillate, which includes different types of diesel fuel. In addition to fuel, a barrel of oil can be used to create a variety of products such as jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants, and petrochemicals found in everyday items like makeup and medicine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of gallons in a barrel of crude oil | 42 gallons |
| Number of litres in a barrel of crude oil | 158 litres |
| Number of imperial gallons in a barrel of crude oil | 34.9723 gallons |
| Number of US gallons in a barrel of jet fuel | 200 |
| Number of litres in a barrel of jet fuel | 158.9873 |
| Number of imperial gallons in a barrel of jet fuel | 34.9723 |
| Number of US gallons of gasoline in a barrel of crude oil | 19.4 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of fuel oil in a barrel of crude oil | 8.9 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of jet fuel in a barrel of crude oil | 4.2 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of resid in a barrel of crude oil | 2.7 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of still gas in a barrel of crude oil | 2 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of coke in a barrel of crude oil | 1.8 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of liquefied gas in a barrel of crude oil | 1.8 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of petrochemical feedstock in a barrel of crude oil | 1.4 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of asphalt in a barrel of crude oil | 1.3 gallons |
| Number of US gallons of lubricants in a barrel of crude oil | 0.5 gallons |
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What You'll Learn
A barrel of crude oil contains 19.4 gallons of gasoline
A barrel is a unit of volume that is used in various contexts, such as dry barrels, fluid barrels, and oil barrels. In the oil industry, a barrel (unit symbol bbl) is a unit of volume used for measuring oil.
The oil barrel is defined as 42 US gallons, 158.9873 litres, or 34.9723 Imperial gallons. This standard was officially adopted by the Petroleum Producers Association in 1872. The 42-gallon oil barrel was chosen in 1866 by a group of America's earliest independent oil producers, who decided that this volume was best for transporting oil.
On average, a barrel of crude oil contains about 19.4 gallons of gasoline, 8.9 gallons of fuel oil, 4.2 gallons of jet fuel, 2.7 gallons of resid, 2.0 gallons of still gas, 1.8 gallons of coke, 1.8 gallons of liquefied gas, 1.4 gallons of petrochemical feedstock, 1.3 gallons of asphalt, 0.5 gallons of lubricants, and 0.3 gallons of other products.
The total of these products is 2.3 gallons more than 42 gallons due to reprocessing.
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A barrel of jet fuel contains 200 usable litres
The 42-gallon oil barrel was officially adopted in 1866. It was chosen as the standard measure because it was the most practical size for transportation and shipping. Twenty 42-gallon barrels could fit on a typical barge or railroad flatcar, and they were also a good size for storing and handling.
The barrel gets its name from the French word 'baril', though its origin is unknown. It is still used in French and has derivations in many other languages, including Italian, Polish and Spanish. In most countries, the term has become obsolete, superseded by SI units.
The oil industry continues to use the barrel as a standard unit of measurement, and it is also used in the pricing of oil, with the cost often given in US dollars per barrel. The barrel is also used as a standard unit of volume for other liquids, including beer and wine.
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Oil companies use Mbbl and MMbbl to denote multiples of barrels
The barrel is a unit of volume that has been used since medieval times. In the context of the oil industry, a barrel typically refers to an oil barrel, which is a standard volume of 42 gallons. Oil companies use Mbbl and MMbbl to denote multiples of barrels.
The use of these abbreviations can vary across different sources and industries. In some cases, Mbbl refers to thousands of barrels, while in others, it represents millions of barrels. Similarly, MMbbl can be used to denote either millions of barrels or thousands of barrels in different contexts. Therefore, it is essential to verify the meaning of these abbreviations when encountering them in different publications or industries.
To clarify, the abbreviation "MMbbl" or "MMBBLS" specifically refers to one million barrels of oil. The "MM" in "MMbbl" originates from the Latin word "mille," which translates to a thousand. Thus, "MMbbl" denotes a thousand thousand barrels, equivalent to one million. This unit of measurement is commonly used in the oil industry to estimate and measure oil in various capacities, including oil reserves, production, import, export, and usage.
On the other hand, "Mbbl" or "MBBLS" typically represents one thousand barrels of oil. This unit is also used in the oil industry, particularly when referring to smaller quantities of oil compared to MMbbl. While the barrel as a unit of measurement originated in the mid-19th century with the emergence of the first oil well in Pennsylvania, the specific abbreviations of Mbbl and MMbbl have evolved over time to facilitate the discussion of oil quantities in the industry.
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A barrel is also a unit of volume for beer
A barrel is a unit of volume that is used in various contexts, including for dry goods, fluids, and oil. In the oil industry, a barrel is defined as 42 US gallons, which is approximately 159 litres or 35 imperial gallons. This standard unit of measurement is used for pricing, taxation, and regulatory codes, and is often translated into various languages and dialects.
The use of the term "barrel" for beer originated from the practice of storing and transporting beer in wooden casks or barrels. These casks are typically made of wood and have reinforced edges, allowing for safe displacement by rolling them at an angle or on their sides. Extensive barrel ageing is required for many sour beers, and casks made of steel or oak are used for ageing beer, vinegar, and sauces.
The modern US beer barrel is half a gallon less than the traditional wine barrel, and barrels are also used as a unit of measurement for dry goods such as flour and produce. In the northeastern US, small rough barrels were used to ship nails, bolts, and plumbing fittings until the 1980s.
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A barrel of crude oil contains 8.9 gallons of fuel oil
A barrel is a unit of volume that is used in various contexts. In the oil industry, a standard barrel (also known as a "bbl") is defined as a unit of volume that is exactly 42 US gallons, which is approximately 159 litres or 35 imperial gallons.
The 42-gallon oil barrel was officially adopted in 1866. At the time, a 42-gallon "tierce" weighed more than 300 pounds, which was considered to be the maximum amount that a man could reasonably carry. Twenty of these barrels could fit on a typical barge or railroad flatcar, making this size the logical choice for the industry's standard measure.
A barrel of crude oil contains various petroleum products, including gasoline, fuel oil, jet fuel, resid, still gas, coke, liquefied gas, petrochemical feedstock, asphalt, lubricants, and more. On average, a barrel of crude oil contains about 19.4 gallons of gasoline, 8.9 gallons of fuel oil, 4.2 gallons of jet fuel, 2.7 gallons of resid, 2.0 gallons of still gas, 1.8 gallons of coke, 1.8 gallons of liquefied gas, 1.4 gallons of petrochemical feedstock, 1.3 gallons of asphalt, 0.5 gallons of lubricants, and 0.3 gallons of other products.
Fuel oil is used for home heating oil, diesel fuel, and commercial fuel oil. It is a light oil, along with Grade 1 and Grade 2 Fuel Oils, Diesel Fuel Oils, and most Domestic Fuel Oils.
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Frequently asked questions
A barrel of oil is equal to 42 gallons or 159 litres. However, the amount of fuel in a barrel varies depending on the type of fuel. For example, a barrel of oil can produce about 19 to 20 gallons of gasoline, while jet fuel typically comes in barrels of 200 litres or 52.8 US gallons.
Crude oil, also known as petroleum, is a mixture of hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and small amounts of metal. It is a fossil fuel that comes from decaying prehistoric plants and animals.
A barrel of crude oil can be refined into various petroleum products beyond just gasoline and diesel fuels. For example, about nine percent of a barrel of oil is used for jet fuel, three percent for asphalt, and one percent for lubricants.
Oil consumption is challenging to calculate as it depends on various factors such as individual consumption, company consumption, and different types of transportation. In 2016, the US consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day, with motor gasoline consumption averaging about 9.3 million barrels per day.
A barrel of aviation fuel typically contains 200 usable litres.
