barrel

bbl exact

A petroleum barrel equals 42 US gallons, or exactly 0.158 987 294 928 m³. It is a pure volume unit: on its own, it does not correspond to any fixed amount of energy — you also need to know the specific fuel's density and heating value for that. It is distinct from 'boe' (barrel of oil equivalent).

Definition

Dimension: Volume
Symbols: bbl, barrel
System: US
Base factor: ×0.158987294928
Exactness: exact

Follows from an SI or definitional identity — no material assumption.

Also known as

oil barrelpetroleum barrelbarrelsbblbblsbl

Sources

Common conversions

for 1 bbl

milliliter exact	158,987.294928	mL	exact
liter exact	158.987294928	L	exact
cubic meter exact	0.158987294928	m³	exact
US gallon exact	42	US gal	exact
imperial gallon exact	~34.9723	imp gal	exact
cubic foot exact	~5.61458	ft³	exact

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Learn more

What is a barrel? The oil barrel is a volume unit: exactly 42 US gallons. Its energy content is a separate, estimated quantity.Barrel vs boe A physical barrel is a volume; a “barrel of oil equivalent” (boe) is a fixed energy convention. They are not the same thing.