
Natural gas is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other gases, but one of its most valuable properties is its energy density. This means that a small volume of natural gas contains a lot of energy, making it a convenient and efficient fuel source.
One of the key values of natural gas is its ability to be transported through pipelines, which is a major advantage over other fuels like oil. This is because natural gas is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, allowing it to flow easily through pipes.
The energy content of natural gas is typically measured in British thermal units (BTUs), with one BTU representing the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The BTU content of natural gas can vary depending on its composition, but it's typically around 1,000 BTUs per cubic foot.
Natural Gas Properties
Natural gas is a versatile fuel source, and understanding its properties is essential for efficient use.

The higher heating value (HHV) of natural gas varies depending on its source, ranging from 33.32MJ/Sm in the Netherlands to 41.40MJ/Sm in Qatar.
Algeria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have HHV values between 36.00MJ/Sm and 40.60MJ/Sm.
The lower heating value (LHV) of natural gas is typically around 90% of its HHV.
To give you a better idea, here are some examples of HHV values from different countries:
The United Kingdom and the United States have HHV values of 39.71MJ/Sm and 38.42MJ/Sm, respectively.
Measuring Heat Value
The heat value of natural gas is measured in megajoules per cubic meter (MJ/m³), which shows how much energy is released while combusting 1 cubic meter of natural gas.
A megajoule per cubic meter is equivalent to 26.83 BTU/SCF (British thermal unit / cubic foot), making it a decimal multiple of a derived unit of specific energy.
The heat content of natural gas can vary by country, with an average of 34.12 MJ/M3 in Hungary.
Natural gas producers must meet quality criteria and parameters before exporting their product, which determines the heating value and ultimately the price of the fuel.
A tool called a chromatograph measures the quality of the natural gas and determines its components, including its heating value.
Value Determination

The heat value of natural gas is a crucial factor in determining its price and usage. The heat content of natural gas is not related to its color, price, or the color of the flame in a stove. It's actually measured in units of energy per volume, such as megajoules per cubic meter (MJ/m³).
In different countries, the heat value of natural gas can vary significantly. For example, in Hungary, the average heat value is 34.12 MJ/M³, while in Qatar it's as high as 41.40 MJ/Sm. These variations are due to differences in the quality and composition of the natural gas.
To give you a better idea of the heat values of natural gas from various sources, here's a list of typical higher heating values per Standard cubic meter of gas:
- Algeria: 39.57MJ/Sm
- Bangladesh: 36.00MJ/Sm
- Canada: 39.00MJ/Sm
- China: 38.93MJ/Sm
- Indonesia: 40.60MJ/Sm
- Iran: 39.36MJ/Sm
- Netherlands: 33.32MJ/Sm
- Norway: 39.24MJ/Sm
- Pakistan: 34.90MJ/Sm
- Qatar: 41.40MJ/Sm
- Russia: 38.23MJ/Sm
- Saudi Arabia: 38.00MJ/Sm
- Turkmenistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
- United Kingdom: 39.71MJ/Sm
- United States: 38.42MJ/Sm
- Uzbekistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
Lower Value
The Lower Heating Value (LHV) is a measure of the available thermal energy produced by a combustion of fuel, measured as a unit of energy per unit mass or volume of substance.

It's worth noting that the LHV considers energy losses such as the energy used to vaporize water, which is not accounted for in the Higher Heating Value (HHV).
The LHV is about 90% of the HHV, making it a useful measure for comparing fuels where condensation of the combustion products is impractical.
The exact definition of LHV is not uniformly agreed upon, but one definition is to subtract the heat of vaporization of the water from the HHV.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) defines LHV as the amount of heat released when the products are cooled to 60 °F (15+5⁄9 °C).
The Gas Processors Suppliers Association (GPSA) uses a reference temperature of 60 °F (15+5⁄9 °C) and defines LHV as the enthalpy of all combustion products minus the enthalpy of the fuel at the reference temperature, minus the enthalpy of the stoichiometric oxygen (O2) at the reference temperature, minus the heat of vaporization of the vapor content of the combustion products.
A rule of thumb for natural gas is HHV = LHV x 1.11.
Here's a rough guide to the typical LHV of natural gas from various sources:
Value

The value of natural gas is a crucial aspect of its usage and measurement. Heating value describes the energy content of a specific volume of natural gas, making it essential for designing gas-consuming equipment and determining the amount of gas needed for a specific end-use.
The heating value of natural gas varies depending on its source and composition. For example, the International Energy Agency reports that the higher heating value of natural gas from various sources ranges from 33.32MJ/Sm in the Netherlands to 41.40MJ/Sm in Qatar.
Natural gas has two different heating values: high heating value (HHV) and low heating value (LHV). The difference between HHV and LHV is typically about 10% for natural gas, with HHV including the heat that can be obtained by condensing the water vapor released during combustion.
The value of natural gas is often expressed in units of energy per volume, such as Btu per cubic foot (Btu/cf) or gigajoules per cubic metre (Gj/m3). In the United States, heating values vary between regions depending on their sources of natural gas.
Consider reading: Restore Volume

Here are some typical higher heating values per Standard cubic metre of gas from various countries:
- Algeria: 39.57MJ/Sm
- Bangladesh: 36.00MJ/Sm
- Canada: 39.00MJ/Sm
- China: 38.93MJ/Sm
- Indonesia: 40.60MJ/Sm
- Iran: 39.36MJ/Sm
- Netherlands: 33.32MJ/Sm
- Norway: 39.24MJ/Sm
- Pakistan: 34.90MJ/Sm
- Qatar: 41.40MJ/Sm
- Russia: 38.23MJ/Sm
- Saudi Arabia: 38.00MJ/Sm
- Turkmenistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
- United Kingdom: 39.71MJ/Sm
- United States: 38.42MJ/Sm
- Uzbekistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
To convert these values to Normal cubic metres, you can multiply the values by 1.0549.
Natural Gas Values
Natural gas values are typically expressed in units of energy per volume, with the most common units being British thermal units per cubic foot (BTU/SCF) and megajoules per cubic meter (MJ/m3).
The heat value of natural gas depends on how effective the thermal energy coming from the natural gas is, and it's not related to the color of the flame in the stove, nor to its color or price. In Hungary, the heat value of natural gas has an average of 34.12 MJ/M3.
The heat content of natural gas varies between regions across the US and the world depending on their sources of natural gas. Here are some typical higher heating values per Standard cubic meter of gas from various sources:
The lower heating value of natural gas is normally about 90% of its higher heating value.
Natural Gas Values by Source

Natural gas values vary significantly depending on the source. The International Energy Agency reports that Algeria has a higher heating value of 39.57MJ/Sm.
The United States has a higher heating value of 38.42MJ/Sm, while Saudi Arabia has a value of 38.00MJ/Sm. These values are based on the International Energy Agency's report.
In contrast, the Netherlands has a lower heating value of 33.32MJ/Sm. This is significantly lower than many other countries.
Here's a breakdown of the higher heating values per Standard cubic metre of gas from various countries:
- Algeria: 39.57MJ/Sm
- Canada: 39.00MJ/Sm
- China: 38.93MJ/Sm
- Indonesia: 40.60MJ/Sm
- Iran: 39.36MJ/Sm
- Netherlands: 33.32MJ/Sm
- Norway: 39.24MJ/Sm
- Pakistan: 34.90MJ/Sm
- Qatar: 41.40MJ/Sm
- Russia: 38.23MJ/Sm
- Saudi Arabia: 38.00MJ/Sm
- Turkmenistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
- United Kingdom: 39.71MJ/Sm
- United States: 38.42MJ/Sm
- Uzbekistan: 37.89MJ/Sm
Core Values of Common Fuels
Natural gas is a common fuel used for heating, cooking, and generating electricity. It's a mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily methane, which is the main component of natural gas.
The higher heating value (HHV) of methane is 890.31 kJ/mol, which is a measure of its energy content. This value is important for understanding the efficiency of natural gas as a fuel source.

Methane has a higher heating value of 50.01 MJ/kg, which is a significant amount of energy per unit of weight. In comparison, propane has a higher heating value of 46.35 MJ/kg.
Here's a comparison of the higher heating values of some common fuels:
The lower heating value (LHV) of methane is 802.32 kJ/mol, which is a measure of its energy content after accounting for the energy lost during combustion. This value is lower than the higher heating value because some of the energy is lost as water vapor.
The LHV of methane is 50.01 MJ/kg, which is a significant amount of energy per unit of weight. In comparison, propane has an LHV of 46.35 MJ/kg.
Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to other fossil fuels. It's also a relatively efficient fuel source, with an efficiency rate of around 90%.
Intriguing read: Lhv vs Hhv
Common Heat of Combustion
The heat of combustion of a fuel is commonly referred to as the heating value or the caloric value. It's the amount of heat released when a unit amount of the fuel is completely combusted.

The heating value is a characteristic of each specific fuel, and it can be categorized as either the higher heating value (HHV) or the lower heating value (LHV). The HHV includes the heat of vaporization of the water produced during combustion.
The LHV, on the other hand, does not include the heat of vaporization of the water produced. This means that the LHV is always lower than the HHV.
Fuel gases and fuel liquids usually contain little, if any, water, so the difference between HHV and LHV is not significant. However, raw solid fuels like coal, wood, or peat do contain significant amounts of water, which affects the heating value.
In the case of natural gas, the heat content is usually expressed in megajoules per cubic meter (MJ/m3), which shows how much energy is released while combusting 1 cubic meter of natural gas.
Core Fuel Properties
Natural gas is a complex fuel with various properties that affect its usability and efficiency. The Lower Heating Value (LHV) of natural gas is a crucial parameter in this context.
The LHV of natural gas is approximately 802.32 kJ/mol, which is significantly lower than that of other common fuels. This is due to the presence of impurities and natural gas liquids (NGL) that are removed during processing.
Natural gas is essentially pure methane after removal of impurities and NGL. This makes it an attractive fuel for various applications.
The molecular weight of methane is 16.043, which is relatively low compared to other fuels. This affects the density and energy content of natural gas.
Here's a comparison of the LHV of natural gas with other common fuels:
As you can see, the LHV of natural gas is significantly lower than that of other hydrocarbons. This affects the energy content and efficiency of natural gas in various applications.
The gas temperature and pressure for the values of LHV are 0 °C and 101.325 kPa. This is an important consideration when working with natural gas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LHV for LNG?
The Lower Heating Value (LHV) of LNG is approximately 45 MJ/kg or 19,350 BTU/lb. This value represents the energy released when LNG is burned and can be used for comparison with other fuels.
What is natural gas density value?
Natural gas has a density of 0.65 kg/m3 at 20°C. This makes it lighter than air, contributing to its safe and efficient use in various applications.
Sources
- https://group.met.com/en/media/energy-insight/calorific-value-of-natural-gas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_of_combustion
- https://energyknowledgebase.com/topics/heating-value.asp
- https://www.fortisbc.com/services/commercial-industrial-services/natural-gas-price-market-curtailment-information
- https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/heat_of_combustion
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