Pat Naughtin wrote in USMA 15758: >Dear Joe, > >Re: [USMA:15662] Re: USA - no metric future? > >I always thought that the 200 L drum was designed as a 200 L drum. That is >it was designed to hold 200 L with a small airspace (about 8 L). >Subsequently it became known as the 55 gallon drum in the USA and the 44 >gallon drum in the UK and Australia. I think it is a false argument to >reconvert 55 gallons (US) to 208.2 litres. > >With respect to the barrel, I understand that, by international agreement, >the notional international oil barrel (that never existed) is exactly 159 L >and it has been for some years. My belief is that this value was a >compromise between 42 gallons (US) and 35 gallons (UK). > >Cheers, > >Pat Naughtin
Dear Pat: You have lived too long in a metric country. As a result you have got your measurement history upside down. The modern petroleum industry started in Pennsylvania in 1858, long before the metric system received any general interest from Americans. The 42 US gallon barrel dates from that early period. I have no doubt that the 55 gallon oil drum is also American. American oil companies have always, and still do, dominated the oil patch. Joe Joseph B.Reid 17 Glebe Road West Toronto M5P 1C8 TEL. 416-486-6071
