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The barrel hasA volume of 55 gal. but they put 50 in.

Incorrect. A barrel (bbl) has a volume of 42 U.S. gallons. The measurement dates from the mid-1800's when crude oil was transported short distances in wagons with wooden barrels. The barrels were not uniform so a volume of 42 gallons was standardized for the barrel. The barrel or thousand barrels remain a common measurement for liquids in the petroleum industry.

This is unrelated to the steel DRUM which is used for lubricants and some chemicals, which has a volume of 55 gallons.

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16y ago

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