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MCF
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Mcf is a unit of measurement for natural gas that equals 1,032 cubic feet, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. One Mcf is equal to approximately 1 million British Thermal Units (BTUs). One BTU is equivalent to the amount of energy used to raise the temperature of a pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.[1]
Background
Natural gas, a combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons used to generate electricity and heat buildings, is measured by volume. This figure is then stated in cubic feet. One cubic foot of natural gas is equal to the amount of gas that can fill a volume of one cubic foot at certain temperature and pressure levels. One cubic foot of natural gas is equal to one British Thermal Unit, the amount of energy used to raise the temperature of a pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. One Mcf of natural gas—1,000 cubic feet—is equal to 1 million BTUs.[2]
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) compares the energy content of different fuels in terms of BTUs, though the BTU content of fuels may vary depending on where the fuels are acquired. The following list from the EIA compares the BTU content of common energy sources:[3][4]
- 1 barrel (42 gallons) of crude oil produced in the United States: 5.729 million BTU
- 1 gallon of gasoline: 120,405 BTU
- 1 gallon of diesel fuel: 137,381 BTU
- 1 gallon of heating oil: 138,500 BTU
- 1 barrel of residual fuel oil: 6.287 million BTU
- 1 cubic foot of natural gas: 1,032 BTU
- 1 gallon of propane: 91,333 BTU
- 1 short ton (2,000 pounds) of coal: 19.882 million BTU
- 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity: 3,412 BTU
Natural gas prices
Natural gas prices can be measured in the marketplace in one million BTUs or in one thousand cubic feet (Mcf). One dollar of natural gas per Mcf is calculated by multiplying the dollar per one million BTU of natural gas by 1.032.[3]
The table below shows natural gas prices per Mcf in the United States for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors from 2014 to 2016.[5]
| Natural gas prices in dollars per Mcf, 2014-2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Residential price | 10.97 | 10.38 | 10.06 |
| Commercial price | 8.90 | 7.91 | 7.25 |
| Industrial price | 5.62 | 3.91 | 3.51 |
| Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Natural Gas Prices" February 28, 2017 | |||
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Investopedia, "Mcf," accessed August 5, 2014
- ↑ Tulsa Gas Technologies, "How Natural Gas is Measured," March 29, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Units for comparing energy," accessed March 29, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "What are Ccf, Mcf, Btu, and therms? How do I convert natural gas prices in dollars per Ccf or Mcf to dollars per Btu or therm?" accessed March 8, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Natural Gas Prices" February 28, 2017
