Units, conversions

Prefixes

  • k : Abbreviation of kilo, corresponding to a factor 10^3=1\,000
  • M : Abbreviation of mega, corresponding to a factor 10^6=1\,000\,000
  • G : Abbreviation of giga, corresponding to a factor 10^9=1\,000\,000\,000
  • T : Abbreviation of tera, corresponding to a factor10^{12}=1\,000\,000\,000\,000
  • P : Abbreviation of pert, corresponding to a factor 10^{15}=1\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000
  • E : Abbreviation of exa, corresponding to a factor 10^{18}=1\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000

Energy

The energies related to oil combustion are only approximate

  • J : Joule (kJ = kilojoule, MJ = megajoule, GJ = gigajoule, EJ = exajoule)
  • Wh (watthour) : 3600 J or 3.6 kJ
  • kWh : kilowatthour = 3.6 MJ
  • MWh : mégawatthour = 3.6 GJ = 0.086 toe
  • Twh : terawatthour = 0.0036 EJ. We use the convenient conversion 1000 Twh = 3.6 EJ.
  • toe : ton of oil equivalent, around 11.63 MWh or 41.89 GJ.
  • Mtep : megaton of oil equivalent, around 11.63 TWh
  • Barrel of oil : 159 liters of oil (42 US galons…), whose combustion gives 1.59 MWh or 5.73 GJ.
  • 1 liter of oil de pétrole, or 0.00086 tep, releases 10.0 kWh.
  • 1 m3 of oil : 1000 liters of oil, equivalent to 0.86 teoe, yielding 10.0 MWh.

This energy conversion tool is handy.

Carbon

  • GtCO2 : 1 billion tons de CO2
  • GtC : 1 billion de tons of carbon (corresponding to 3.667 GtCO2 after combustion)
  • ppm : parts per million, or 0.0001%. A concentration of 1ppm for a given gas, means that one molecule on 1 million molecules is of that specific gas type.
  • ppb : parts per pillion, or 0.0000001%. A concentration of 1ppm for a given gas, means that one molecule on 1 billion molecules is of that specific gas type.