Home / Guides / Net oil calculator
WELLFLINT GUIDES
Net oil calculator: gross to net barrels
Updated October 9, 2026 · By Ben Tremblay, founder of WellFlint
Short answer: net barrels = gross barrels × temperature correction factor × (1 − BS&W%). For example, 160 gross barrels of 40° API oil at 80°F with 0.4% BS&W is about 157.76 net barrels.
Calculator
Need gross barrels from tank gauges first? Use the tank barrels per inch calculator.
The formula
Net barrels = gross barrels × CTL × (1 − BS&W ÷ 100)
CTL is the correction for the temperature of the liquid. For crude oil it comes from API MPMS Chapter 11.1: CTL = e−α × ΔT × (1 + 0.8 × α × ΔT), where ΔT is the oil temperature minus 60°F and α depends on the oil's density at 60°F.
Temperature correction factors for crude oil
| API gravity | 40°F | 60°F | 80°F | 100°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30° | 1.0089 | 1.0000 | 0.9911 | 0.9821 |
| 35° | 1.0094 | 1.0000 | 0.9905 | 0.9810 |
| 40° | 1.0100 | 1.0000 | 0.9899 | 0.9798 |
| 45° | 1.0106 | 1.0000 | 0.9893 | 0.9786 |
Warm oil gets a factor below 1, so net is lower than gross. Cold oil gets a factor above 1.
Where the numbers come from
All four inputs are on a crude oil run ticket: the opening and closing gauges (for gross barrels), the observed temperature, the corrected API gravity and the BS&W from the shake-out. Checking the ticket's net barrels against this math, and then against the purchaser statement, is how you catch a bad gauge or a short payment. Our run ticket reconciliation guide walks through it.
Net barrels from each run ticket add up to the oil disposed on your Texas Form PR. See the 2026–2027 Form PR due dates.
This calculator is for checking tickets and estimates. It is not a substitute for the purchaser's measurement or your strapping tables.
Common questions
How do you calculate net oil from gross barrels?
Multiply gross barrels by the temperature correction factor for the oil's API gravity and temperature, then deduct the BS&W percentage. Net barrels = gross × CTL × (1 − BS&W ÷ 100).
What is BS&W on a run ticket?
BS&W is basic sediment and water, the share of a load that isn't oil. The gauger measures it from a sample, usually with a centrifuge (shake-out) test, and it is deducted from the barrels the purchaser pays for.
Why is crude oil corrected to 60°F?
Oil expands as it warms. Correcting every load to 60°F means a barrel sold on a hot afternoon and one sold on a cold morning are compared on the same basis. That corrected figure is the net standard volume.
Why doesn't my calculation match the purchaser statement exactly?
Purchasers use the current API MPMS Chapter 11.1 tables, their own rounding, and sometimes meter factors. This calculator uses the published crude oil formula, so expect small differences in the second decimal place. A gap of more than a barrel or two on a load is worth checking.
Is there a limit on BS&W?
Yes. Each purchaser sets a maximum BS&W in its contract and can refuse a load above it. Check your crude purchase agreement for the exact number.