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

Think SI

Base units

Derived units

In SI there are 7 base units from which

all the other units can be derived or
computed.

Quantity

Name of
unit

Area

square metre

m2

The 7 base units are:

Volume

cubic metre

m3

Velocity

metre per
second

m/s

Acceleration

metre per
second2

m/s2

Density

kilogram per
cubic metre

kg/m3

Quantity
1. Length
2. Mass
3. Time
4. Electric
current
5. Temperature
6. Amount of
substance
7. Luminous
intensity

Name of Symbol
unit
metre
m
kilogram
kg
second
s
ampere
A
kelvin or
degree
Celsius
mole

K
C
mol

candela

cd

Supplementary :
Plane angle
Solid angle

radian
steradian

rad
sr

Symbol

Frequency

hertz

Hz

Force

newton

Pressure

pascal

Pa
(N/m2)

Energy

joule

J (N-m)

Power

watt

W (J/s)

Electric
potential

volt

V (W/A)

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

A1

Think SI

Prefixes
The value of most SI units can be
changed by the simple placing of a
prefix in front of the unit name.
Prefix Symbol
Value
Factor
giga
G
1,000,000,000
109
mega
M
1,000,000
106
kilo
k
1,000
103
hecto
h
100
102
deca
da
10
10
deci
d
0.1
10-1
centi
c
0.01
10-2
milli
m
0.001
10-3
micro
m
0.000 001
10-6
Examples
one gigapascal 1 GPa =1,000,000,000 Pa
one kilometre
1 km =1,000 m
one decanewton 1 daN =10 N
one milligram
1 mg =0.001 g
one micrometre 1 mm =0.000 001 m
one square kilometre 1 km2 =106 m2
one cubic megametre 1 Mm3 =1018 m3

Force, Work, Torque and Power

Mass

is the quantity of matter in an

object and is constant on earth
as well as in space.
Units of mass: kg kilogram
t metric tonne
1 t=l,000 kg

Force F = m x a
Force = mass x acceleration
Unit of force: N newton
(N = kg.m.s-2)
Practical use: daN decanewton
kN kilonewton
MN meganewton
Work

Energy is force x distance (N.m)

Unit of work: J Joule
Practical use: kJ kilojoule
MJ megajoule

Torque Unit:

N.m newton-metre

Power is the work per unit time

Unit of power: W watt
Practical use: kW kilowatt
MW megawatt

A2

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

A3

1
25.4 x 10-6
304.8 x 10-6
1.609
1.853

25.4 x 10-3

304.8 x 10-3

1.609 x 103

1.853 x 103

1 inch

1 foot

1 mile
(statute)

1 mile
(nautical)

1 kilometre

1 metre

1 x 103

Kilometres
1 x 10-3

Metres

From

To

72.96 x 103

63.36 x 103

12

39.37 x 103

39.37

Inches

LENGTH (I)

6.08 x 103

5.28 x 103

83.33 x 10-3

3.281 x 103

3.281

Feet

1.152

189.4 x 10-6

15.78 x 10-6

621.4 x 10-3

621.4 x 10-6

Miles
(statute)

868.4 x 10-3

164.5 x 10-6

13.71 x 10-6

539.6 x 10-3

539.6 x 10-6

Miles
(nautical)

A4

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

1
1 x 10-3
28.32
4.546
3.785
159

1 x 10-3

1 x 10-6

28.32 x 10-3

159 x 10-3

1 cubic
centimetre

1 cubic foot

1 gallon (imp) 4.546 x 10-3

3.785 x 10-3

1 cubic
decimetre

1 gallon
(US liquid)

1barrel

159 x 103

3.785 x 103

4.536 x 103

28.32 x 103

1 x 103

1 x 106

1 x 103

Cubic
centimetres

Cubic
decimetres

Cubic
metres

1 cubic metre

From

To

5.615

133.7 x 10-3

160.5 x 10-3

35.31 x 10-6

35.31 x 10-3

35.31

Cubic
feet

VOLUME (l3)

CONVERSION FACTORS

34.97

832.7 x 10-3

6.229

220 x 10-6

220 x 10-3

220

Gallons
(imp)

42

1.201

7.481

264.2 x 10-6

264.2 x 10-3

264.2

Gallons
(US liquid)

23.81 x 10-3

28.59 x 10-3

178.1 x 10-3

6.29 x 10-6

6.29 x 10-3

6.29

Barrels

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

A5

1.016
907.2 x 10-3

2.205 x 103
2.240 x 103
2 x 103

1 x 103

1.016 x 103
907.2

1ton (long)

1ton (short)

1 ton (metric)

453.6 x 10-6

453.6 x 10-3

892.9 x 10-3

984.2 x 10-3

446.4 x 10-6

984.2 x 10-6

1 x 10-3

1 pound

Tons
(long)

Tons
(metric)

2.205

Pounds

Kilograms

1 kilogram

From

To

MASS (m)

CONVERSION FACTORS

1.12

1.102

500 x 10-6

1.102 x 10-3

Tons
(short)

A6

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

1 x 109

10 x 103

72.33 x 103

32.17

70.93

72.33 x 10-6

7.233

Poundals

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

2) Pound signifies pound (avdp)

1.02 x 103

453.6 x 10-3

444.8 x 103

4.448

1 pound
force
1 x 103 daN

14.10 x 10-3

13.84 x 103

138.4 x 10-3

1 poundal

1.02 x 10-6

10 x 10-6
980.7 x 103

102 x 10-3

100 x 103

9.807

Kilogram
force

Dynes

Newtons

1 kilogram
force

1 dyne

1 newton

From

To

FORCE (m.l.t-2)

CONVERSION FACTORS

2.248 x 103

31.08 x 10-3

2.205

2.248 x 10-6

224.8 x 10-3

Pounds
force

0.445 x 10-3

13.83 x 10-6

0.981 x 10-3

1 x 10-9

0.1 x 10-3

1 x 103 daN
(kdaN)

CONVERSION FACTORS
PRESSURE
To convert from

To

Multiply by

psi

kPa
bar
kg/cm2
m H2O (15C)
ft H2O (39F)

6.895
0.06895
0.07037
0.7037*
2.307*

kPa

psi
bar
kg/cm2
m H2O (15C)
ft H2O (39F)

0.1450
0.01
0.01020
0.1021*
0.3346*

bar

psi
kPa
kg/cm2
m H2O (15C)
ft H2O (39F)

14.50
100
1.020
10.21*
33.46*

kg/cm2

psi
kPa
bar
m H2O (15C)
ft H2O (39F)

14.22
98.07
0.9807
10.01*
32.81*

m H2O (15C)

psi
kPa
bar
kg/cm2
ft H2O (39F)

1.421
9.798*
0.09798*
0.09991*
3.278

ft H2O (39F)

psi
kPa
bar
kg/cm2
m H2O (15C)

0.4335*
2.989*
0.02989*
0.03048*
0.3051

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

of fluid head. P = gh has been used to obtain multiplication
factors indicated by *. The fluid density () 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

A7

PRESSURE GRADIENTS & FLUID DENSITY

to

Multiply by

psi/ft

kPa/m
bar/10m
lb/gal (US)
lb/ft3
kg/dm3

22.62
2.262
19.25*
144.0*
2.307*

bar/10m

kPa/m
psi/ft
lb/gal (US)
lb/ft3
kg/dm3

10.0
0.4421
8.51*
63.66*
1.020*

kPa/m

bar/10m
psi/ft
lb/gal (US)
lb/ft3
kg/dm3

0.10
0.0442
0.851*
6.366*
0.1020*

lb/gal(US)

kPa/m
bar/10m
psi/ft
lb/ft3
kg/dm3

1.175*
0.1175*
0.0519*
7.481
0.1198

lb/ft3

kPa/m
bar/10m
psi/ft
lb/gal (US)
kg/dm3

0.1571*
0.01571*
0.00694*
0.1337
0.01602

kg/dm3

kPa/m
bar/10m
psi/ft
lb/gal (US)
lb/ft3

9.807*
0.9807*
0.4335*
8.345
62.43

For the definition of API Gravity see page A-12

To convert from

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

The relationship P = gh 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 4C and 1 Atm.
(=101.3 kPa =14.7 psi ) equals one dm3 water at 4C 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.

A8

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

A9

735.5
745.7
10.055

1 horsepower
(metric)

1 horsepower
(british)

1 British thermal
unit/sec

778

550

542.5

0.7376

Foot-Pounds
per second

1.818 x 10-3

1.843 x 10-3

1.434

1.014

1.415

986.3

1.341 x 10-3

1.36 x 10-3

Horsepower
(british)

Horsepower
(metric)

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

1.356

Watts

1 foot-pound/sec

1 watt

From

To

POWER (m.l2.t-3)

CONVERSION FACTORS

7.07 x 10-3

697.2 x 10-3

1.285 x 10-3

948 x 10-6

British Thermal
Units/sec

A10

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

745.7 x 10-3
293.1 x 10-6

2.685 x 106

1.055 x 103

1 horsepower
hour (british)

1 BTU

252

641.2 x 103

632.4 x 103

778.2

1.980 x 106

1.953 x 106

3.088

2.655 x 106

737.6 x 10-3

Foot
pounds

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

735.5 x 10-3

2.648 x 106

1 horsepower
hour (metric)

323.8 x 10-3

376.6 x 10-9

1.356

1.163 x 10-6

1 foot pound

859.8 x 103

3.60 x 106

4.187

238.8 x 10-3

277.8 x 10-9

1 calorie

1 kilowatt hour

1 joule

Calories

Kilowatt
hours

Joules

398.5 x 10-6

1.014

512.1 x 10-9

1.581 x 10-6

1.360

377.7 x 10-9

393.0 x 10-6

986.3 x 10-3

505.1 x 10-9

156.0 x 10-6

1.341

372.5 x 10-9

Horsepower Horsepower
hours (metric) hours (british)

HEAT, ENERGY AND WORK (m.l2.t-2)

CONVERSION FACTORS

2.544 x 103

2.510 x 103

1.285 x 10-3

3.968 x 10-3

3.412 x 103

947.8 x 10-6

BTU

CONVERSION FACTORS
TEMPERATURE
water freezing

water boiling

0
0
32
273
492

100
80
212
373
672

C x 0.8
C x 1.8 + 32
C + 273
C x 1.8 + 492

=
=
=
=

Re
F
K
R

Re

Re x
Re x
Re x
Re x

=
=
=
=

C
F
K
R

(F - 32) / 1.8
(F - 32) x 0.444
(F - 32) / 1.8 + 273
F + 460

=
=
=
=

C
Re
K
R

K - 273
(K - 273) x 0.8
(K - 273) x 1.8 + 32
(K - 273) x 1.8 + 492

=
=
=
=

C
Re
F
R

(R - 492) / 1.8
(R - 492) x 0.444
R - 460
(R - 492) / 1.8 + 273

=
=
=
=

C
Re
F
K

Celcius (C)
Reaumur (Re)
Fahrenheit (F)
Kelvin (K)
Rankine (R)
From:

1.25
2.25 + 32
1.25 + 273
2.25 + 492

NOTE : TR = tF+ 459.67

TK = tC+ 273.15

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

A11

API GRAVITY
As crude is not normally specified in our standard units, but in API gravity,
the equations for conversion are as follows :
141.5
(kg/litre)
API + 131.5
Gradient = 141.5 x 0.4335 (psi/ft)
API + 131.5
SG, crude =

General classification with respect to API gravity:

A12

API

Crude oil

< 20
20 - 30
>30

Heavy
Medium
Light

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

BUOYANCY FACTORS
Corresponding to drilling fluid densities expressed in various units
In kg/m3 BF
1,000
1,020
1,040
1,060
1,080

0.872
0.870
0.867
0.865
0.862

1,100
1,120
1,140
1,160
1,180

0.860
0.857
0.855
0.852
0.850

1,200
1,220
1,240
1,260
1,280

0.847
0.844
0.842
0.839
0.837

1,300
1,320
1,340
1,360
1,380

0.834
0.832
0.829
0.827
0.824

1,400
1,420
1,440
1,460
1,480

0.821
0.819
0.816
0.814
0.811

1,500
1,550
1,600
1,650
1,700

0.809
0.802
0.796
0.790
0.783

1,750
1,800
1,850
1,900
1,950

0.777
0.770
0.764
0.758
0.751

2,000
2,050
2,100
2,150
2,200

0.745
0.739
0.732
0.726
0.719

2,250
2,300
2,350
2,400
2,450

0.713
0.707
0.700
0.694
0.688

2,500
2,550
2,600
2,650

0.681
0.675
0.668
0.662

7,842

In ppg

BF

8.35
8.40
8.60
8.80

0.872
0.872
0.869
0.866

9.00
9.20
9.40
9.60
9.80

0.862
0.859
0.856
0.853
0.850

10.00
10.20
10.40
10.60
10.80

0.847
0.844
0.841
0.838
0.835

11.00
11.20
11.40
11.60
11.80

0.832
0.829
0.826
0.823
0.820

12.00
12.20
12.40
12.60
12.80

0.817
0.814
0.810
0.807
0.804

13.00
13.20
13.40
13.60
13.80

0.801
0.798
0.795
0.792
0.789

14.00
14.20
14.40
14.60
14.80

0.786
0.783
0.780
0.777
0.774

15.00
15.50
16.00
16.50
17.00

0.771
0.763
0.755
0.748
0.740

17.50
18.00
18.50
19.00
19.50

0.733
0.725
0.717
0.710
0.702

20.00
20.50
21.00
21.50
22.00

0.694
0.687
0.679
0.671
0.664

65.43

In lbs/ft3 BF
62.4 0.873
63.0 0.871
64.0 0.869
65.0
66.0
67.0
68.0
69.0

0.867
0.865
0.863
0.861
0.859

70.0
72.0
74.0
76.0
78.0

0.857
0.853
0.849
0.845
0.841

80.0
82.0
84.0
86.0
88.0

0.837
0.832
0.828
0.824
0.820

90.0
92.0
94.0
96.0
98.0

0.816
0.812
0.808
0.804
0.800

100.0
102.0
104.0
106.0
108.0

0.796
0.792
0.788
0.783
0.779

110.0
112.0
114.0
116.0
118.0

0.775
0.771
0.767
0.763
0.759

120.0
122.0
124.0
126.0
128.0

0.755
0.751
0.747
0.743
0.739

130.0
132.0
134.0
136.0
138.0

0.734
0.730
0.726
0.722
0.718

140.0
145.0
150.0
155.0
160.0

0.714
0.704
0.694
0.683
0.673

In psi/ft

BF

0.434 0.872
0.440 0.871
0.450
0.460
0.470
0.480
0.490

0.868
0.865
0.862
0.859
0.856

0.500
0.510
0.520
0.530
0.540

0.853
0.850
0.847
0.844
0.841

0.550
0.560
0.570
0.580
0.590

0.838
0.835
0.832
0.829
0.826

0.600
0.610
0.620
0.630
0.640

0.824
0.821
0.818
0.815
0.812

0.650
0.660
0.670
0.680
0.690

0.809
0.806
0.803
0.800
0.797

0.700
0.720
0.740
0.760
0.780

0.794
0.788
0.782
0.776
0.771

0.800
0.820
0.840
0.860
0.880

0.765
0.759
0.753
0.747
0.741

0.900
0.920
0.940
0.960
0.980

0.735
0.729
0.723
0.718
0.712

1.000
1.020
1.040
1.060
1.080

0.706
0.700
0.694
0.688
0.682

165.0 0.663

1.100 0.676
1.150 0.662

489.5

3.400

In kPa/m BF
9.8 0.872
10.0
10.2
10.4
10.6
10.8

0.870
0.867
0.865
0.862
0.860

11.0
11.2
11.4
11.6
11.8

0.857
0.854
0.852
0.849
0.847

12.0
12.2
12.4
12.6
12.8

0.844
0.841
0.839
0.836
0.834

13.0
13.2
13.4
13.6
13.8

0.831
0.828
0.826
0.823
0.821

14.0
14.2
14.4
14.6
14.8

0.818
0.815
0.813
0.810
0.808

15.0
15.5
16.0
16.5
17.0

0.805
0.798
0.792
0.785
0.779

17.5
18.0
18.5
19.0
19.5

0.772
0.766
0.759
0.753
0.746

20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0

0.740
0.733
0.727
0.720
0.714

22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5

0.707
0.701
0.694
0.688
0.681

25.0 0.675
25.5 0.668
26.0 0.662
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

A13