Barrels Oil to Cubic Meters
Converter

Conversion Table

How to convert

1 barrel oil (bbl oil) = 0.158987295 cubic meter (cu m). Barrel Oil (bbl oil) is a unit of Volume used in Standard system. Cubic Meter (cu m) is a unit of Volume used in Metric system.

Oil Barrels: A Unit of Volume

Oil barrels are a unit of volume that are used to measure crude oil and petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. They are different from fluid barrels, which are used to measure other liquids, such as beer, wine, water, etc. Oil barrels are also different from barrel of oil equivalent (BOE), which is a unit of energy based on the approximate energy released by burning one barrel of crude oil.

Definition of Oil Barrels

An oil barrel is defined as 42 US gallons or 0.159 cubic meters in the US customary system of measurement. It is equivalent to 34.9723 imperial gallons or 158.987 liters in the imperial system. An oil barrel is also equal to 5.6146 cubic feet or 6.2898 oil barrels in the metric system.

History of Oil Barrels

The origin of the term barrel as a unit of measure is uncertain, but it may have derived from the French word baril, which means a small cask or keg. Barrels have been used since ancient times to store and transport various goods, especially liquids and dry grains. The size and shape of barrels varied depending on the type and quantity of the goods, the availability of materials, and the customs of different regions and countries.

The use of oil barrels as a unit of measure dates back to the 19th century, when the petroleum industry emerged in the United States and other countries. The first oil wells produced oil that was stored in wooden barrels that were readily available from the whiskey industry. The standard size of these barrels was 42 US gallons, which was also the size of a tierce, a unit of measure for wine and salt.

The use of oil barrels as a unit of measure became more widespread as the oil market developed and expanded globally. Oil barrels were convenient for measuring and transporting large quantities of oil across long distances by rail, ship, pipeline, etc. Oil barrels were also used for pricing and trading oil in various markets and exchanges.

How to Convert Oil Barrels

To convert oil barrels to other units of volume, one can use the following formulas:

• To convert oil barrels to cubic meters: multiply by 0.159
• To convert oil barrels to liters: multiply by 158.987
• To convert oil barrels to cubic feet: multiply by 5.6146
• To convert oil barrels to gallons (US): multiply by 42
• To convert oil barrels to gallons (UK): multiply by 34.9723
• To convert oil barrels to BOE: divide by 6.2898

Where Oil Barrels are Used

Oil barrels are mainly used in the United States and some other countries that still use the US customary system of measurement. They are often used for measuring and reporting the production, consumption, reserves, and trade of crude oil and petroleum products.

In some countries that use the metric system of measurement, such as Canada and Australia, oil barrels are sometimes used as an informal or approximate unit of volume for certain types of crude oil or petroleum products. For example, in Canada, heavy crude oil is sometimes sold by the barrel, which is equivalent to about 159 liters or 0.159 cubic meters.

In some countries that have their own traditional units of volume based on barrels or similar containers, such as India and China, oil barrels are not commonly used or recognized. Instead, they use units such as tonnes (about 7.33 barrels), kilolitres (about 6.29 barrels), or tonnes of oil equivalent (about 7.1 barrels).

Example Conversions of Oil Barrels to Other Units

Here are some examples of converting oil barrels to other units of volume:

• 1 oil barrel = 0.159 cubic meters
• 2 oil barrels = 317.974 liters
• 3 oil barrels = 16.8438 cubic feet
• 4 oil barrels = 168 gallons (US)
• 5 oil barrels = 174.8615 gallons (UK)
• 6 oil barrels = 0.9534 BOE
• 7 oil barrels = 1.113 BOE

Cubic Meters - A Unit of Volume

Definition of the Cubic Meter

A cubic meter (symbol m3 or meter cube) is a unit of volume that is used in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the volume of a cube with sides of 1 meter (3 feet, 36 inches, or 0.9144 meters) in length.

One cubic meter is equal to 1000 liters, 35.3 cubic feet, or 1.3 cubic yards.

History of the Cubic Meter

The cubic meter is derived from the meter, which is the base unit of length in the SI system. The meter was originally defined in 1793 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. The meter was later redefined several times based on different physical standards, such as a platinum-iridium bar and a wavelength of light. The current definition of the meter, adopted in 1983, is based on the speed of light in vacuum

The cubic meter was first used as a unit of volume for measuring water supply in France in the late 18th century. It was also used for measuring gas, wood, and other substances. The cubic meter was adopted as a standard unit of measure in the SI system in 1960. It is still widely used today for various purposes, such as science, engineering, commerce, and everyday life.

How to Convert Cubic Meters

To convert cubic meters to other units of volume, you need to multiply or divide by the appropriate conversion factor. Here are some common conversion factors and examples:

• To convert cubic meters to liters, multiply by 1000.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 1000 = 2000 L
• To convert cubic meters to cubic feet, multiply by 35.3.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 35.3 = 70.6 ft3
• To convert cubic meters to cubic yards, multiply by 1.3.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 1.3 = 2.6 yd3
• To convert cubic meters to gallons (US liquid), multiply by 264.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 264 = 528 gal
• To convert cubic meters to bushels (US), multiply by 28.4.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 28.4 = 56.8 bu
• To convert cubic meters to barrels (oil), multiply by 6.29.
  • Example: 2 m3 x 6.29 = 12.58 bbl

To convert other units of volume to cubic meters, you need to divide by the appropriate conversion factor. Here are some common conversion factors and examples:

• To convert liters to cubic meters, divide by 1000.
  • Example: 2000 L / 1000 = 2 m3
• To convert cubic feet to cubic meters, divide by 35.3.
  • Example: 70.6 ft3 / 35.3 = 2 m3
• To convert cubic yards to cubic meters, divide by 1.3.
  • Example: 2.6 yd3 / 1.3 = 2 m3
• To convert gallons (US liquid) to cubic meters, divide by 264.
  • Example: 528 gal / 264 = 2 m3
• To convert bushels (US) to cubic meters, divide by 28.4.
  • Example: 56.8 bu / 28.4 = 2 m3
• To convert barrels (oil) to cubic meters, divide by 6.29.
  • Example: 12.58 bbl / 6.29 = 2 m3

Where Cubic Meters are Used

Cubic meters are used for measuring various materials and substances in different countries and applications.

Some examples are:

• In most countries that use the metric system, cubic meters are used for measuring water supply, gas consumption, wood volume, and other liquids and solids.
• In some countries that use the imperial system, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, cubic meters are used for measuring natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity.
• In the European Union, cubic meters are used for measuring carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption.
• In the aviation industry, cubic meters are used for measuring the cargo capacity of aircraft and air freight.
• In the shipping industry, cubic meters are used for measuring the volume of containers and cargo ships.

Example Conversions of Cubic Meters to Other Units

Here are some example conversions of cubic meters to other units of volume:

• 1 m3 = 1000 L
• 1 m3 = 35.3 ft3
• 1 m3 = 1.3 yd3
• 1 m3 = 264 gal
• 1 m3 = 28.4 bu
• 1 m3 = 6.29 bbl
• 1 m3 = 0.001 km3