Appendix A

Conversion Factors
Table A.1 gives factors for converting some common U.S. units to coherent
(i.e., consistent) metric units (centimetergramsecond), and to SI units
(meterkilogramsecond). The advantage of using coherent units is that the
U.S. units need not be converted individually when writing equations.
However, the conversion of some customary U.S. field units to coherent SI
units leads to inconveniently large or small numbers. Table A.2 gives some conversion factors that may be more convenient for use on the drilling rig.
The SI system includes two new unitsthe newton (N) and the pascal (Pa).
The newton is the absolute unit of force, defined as 1 kilogram meter per second
squared (m kg/s2), and is obtained by multiplying kilograms by the gravitational constant, 9.806 m/s2. The pascal is the absolute unit of pressure, defined
as 1 newton per meter squared (N/m2).
A complete description of the SI system may be found on page 1575 of the
Journal of Petroleum Technology (December 1977). The principles and application of the SI system are explained in greater detail by Campbell and Campbell in the Journal of Petroleum Technology (August 1985, pp. 14151419).

TABLE A.1 Factors for Converting Common U.S. Units to Coherent

Metric and SI Units
To Convert
U.S. to Metric
cgs Unit
Multiply by

Common U.S.
Field Unit

Metric Unit
(cgs)

Barrel, 42 gal (bbl)

centimeter3 (cm)3 1:589 103

To Convert
U.S. Unit to
SI Unit
Multiply by

SI Unit
(mkgs)
meter3 (m3)

1:589E 01*

Cubic foot (ft )

centimeter (cm)

2:831 10

meter (m )

2:831E 02

Foot (ft)

centimeter (cm)

30.48

meter (m)

3:048E 01

0.5080

meter/sec (m/s) 5:080E 03

Foot/minute (ft min) centimeter/sec

(cm/s)

(Continued)

655

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APPENDIX | A

Conversion Factors

TABLE A.1 Factors for Converting Common U.S. Units to Coherent

Metric and SI Unitscontd

Common U.S.
Field Unit

Metric Unit
(cgs)

To Convert
U.S. to Metric
cgs Unit
Multiply by

Foot of water
(at 39.2 F)**

dyne/cm2

2:989 104

pascal (Pa)

30.48

meter/sec (m/s) 3:048E 01

Foot second (ft/sec) centimeter/sec

(cm/s)

centimeter3 (cm3) 3:785 103

Gallon (gal)

Gallon/minute
(gpm)

centimeter /sec
(cm3/s)

63.09

Inch (in)

centimeter (cm)

2.54

SI Unit
(mkgs)

To Convert
U.S. Unit to
SI Unit
Multiply by
2:989E03

meter3 (m3)

Mil (in )

centimeter (cm)

2:54 10

Pound (lb)***

gram (g)

453.6

Pound (lb)

3:785E 03

meter /sec
(m3/s)

6:309E 03

meter (m)

2:54E 02

meter (m)

2:54E 05

kilogram (kg)

4:536E 01

dyne

4:448 10

newton (N)

4:448E00

Poundal***

dyne

1:382 104

newton (N)

1:382E 01

Pound/barrel
(lb/bbl)

g/cm3

2:854 103

kg/m3

2:854E00

Pound/cubic foot
(lb/ft3)

g/cm3

0.01602

kg/m3

1:602E01

Pound/gallon
(lb/gal)

g/cm3

0.1198

kg/m3

1:198E02

Pound/inch2 (psi)

dyne/cm2

6:895 104

pascal (Pa)

6:895E03

Psi/foot

dyne/cm2/cm

2:262 103

pascal/meter
(Pa/m)

2:262E04

Pound/100 feet2
(lb/100 ft2)

dyne/cm2

4.788

pascal (Pa)

4:788E 01

Square inch (in2)

centimeter2 (cm2) 6.451

meter2 (m2)

6:451E 04

Square foot (ft )

centimeter (cm ) 9290

meter (m )

9:29E 02

*E = locates the decimal point.

**At 39.2F (14C), the specific gravity of water is 1 and a column of water 1 foot high exerts a
pressure of 0.433 pound/inch2 (psi).
***The unit of weight in the U.S. system is the pound (avoirdupois) (lb). The unit of force is the
poundal defined as pounds divided by the gravitational constant, 32,174 ft/sec2. These terms are
used in this table to avoid confusion over the terms pounds (mass) and pounds (force).

APPENDIX | A

657

Conversion Factors

TABLE A.2 Factors for Converting Common U.S. Field Units to

Convenient SI Units*
Conversion
Factors
Multiply by

Quantity
Property

Previous
Units

SI Unit

Symbol

Depth

feet

meter

Hole and pipe

inches
diameters, bit size

millimeters

mm

Weight on bit

pounds

decanewtons

daN

0.445

Nozzle size

32nd inch

millimeters

mm

0.794

Drill rate

feet/hour

meters/hr

m/h

0.3048

Volume

barrels API

cubic meters

0.3048
25.4

0.159

0.00378

m /stroke

Pump output and gal/stroke

flow rate
gal/min

cubic meters/stroke
cubic meters/minute

m /min

0.00378

bbl/stroke

cubic meters/stroke

m3/stroke

0.159

bbl/min

cubic meters/minute

m3/min

0.159

Annular velocity
Slip velocity

feet/min

meters/min

m/min

0.3048

Liner length and

diameter,
pressure

inches

millimeters

mm

psi

kilopascals

kPa

6.895

megapascals

MPa

0.006895

25.4

Bentonite yield

bbl/ton

cubic meters/tonne

m3/t

0.175

Particle size

microns

micrometers

Temperature

Fahrenheit

Celsius

(F 32)/1.8
3

Mud density

lb/gallon

kilograms/cubic meter

kg/m

119.83

Mud gradient

psi/foot

kilopascals/meter

kPa/m

22.62

Funnel viscosity

sec/quart

sec/liter

s/L

1.057

Apparent and
plastic viscosity

centipoise

millipascal seconds

mPa s

Yield point

lbf /100 ft2

pascals

Pa

Gel strength and

stress

0.4788 (0.5
for field use)

(Continued)

658

APPENDIX | A

Conversion Factors

TABLE A.2 Factors for Converting Common U.S. Field Units to

Convenient SI Units*contd
Quantity
Property

Previous
Units

SI Unit

Symbol

Cake thickness

32nd inch

millimeters

mm

Filter loss

millimeters
or cm3

MBT (bentonite
lb/bbl equivalent)

Conversion
Factors
Multiply by
0.794

cubic centimeters

cm

kilograms/cubic
meters

kg/m3

2.85

Material
concentration

pounds per
barrel

kilograms/cubic
meter

kg/m3

2.85

Shear rate

reciprocal
seconds

reciprocal seconds

s1

Torque

foot pounds

newton meters

N.m

1.3558

Table speed

revolutions
per minute

revolutions/minute

r/min

Ionic mass
concentrations

parts per
million

milligram/liter

mg/L

Sand, solids, and oil content will be reported as volume fraction using the symbol substance,
e.g., 12% by volume of solids will be reported as solids = 0.12.
*Courtesy Baroid of Canada, Ltd.