Explanatory Text This report from the 1992 Census of Mineral Industries presents data on the quantity and cost of fuels and electric energy used in mining. For most industries, separate quantity and cost figures were provided on purchased coal, distillate and residual fuel oil, gas, gasoline, and electric energy. Only cost figures were obtained for other fuels and undistributed fuels. The cost for other fuels used in the 1992 Census of Mineral Industries consists of costs for liquefied petroleum gas, coke, wood, and other minor fuels. Undistributed fuels include the cost of fuels for establishments that reported a total cost of fuels but failed to report detailed fuels data. Also included in undistributed fuels are cost estimates for establishments which were not mailed report forms. Excluded are fuels for use as feedstocks or raw materials. Additional data were obtained on the quantity of fuels produced and consumed at the same establishment for heat or power. Such data were obtained on coal, crude petroleum, and natural gas used at the producing establishment for power and heat. For electric energy, quantity figures were collected for total generated electric energy and electric energy sold. In 1992, the U.S. consumption of fuels and electric energy for heat and power by mining establishments amounted to 1,843 trillion British thermal units (Btu). This represented a 6 percent decrease from the 1987 consumption of 1,968 trillion Btu. Establishments classified in the oil and gas extraction industries (major group 13) were the largest consumers of energy, accounting for 67 percent of the total energy used. Establishments located in the State of Texas led in energy consumption with 24 percent of the total energy used in mining in 1992. Although the hours worked by production, development, and exploration workers in mining decreased by 7 percent between 1992 and 1987, the consumption of energy per hour worked remained about the same. In 1992, the use of energy per hour worked amounted to 2.10 million Btu; whereas, in 1987, it was 2.09 million Btu. Consumption of purchased fuels and electric energy for heat and power by mining establishments amounted to 1,193 trillion Btu. This represented virtually no change over the 1987 consumption when it was 1,192 trillion Btu. Consumption of nonpurchased fuels for heat and power decreased 16 percent from the 1987 figure of 776 trillion Btu. The average cost per million Btu of purchased energy consumed in 1992 by the mining industries was $5.34, a 10 percent increase from the 1987 average cost. Although coal was the lowest cost fuel on a dollar per Btu basis, it represented only 5 percent of the total purchased energy consumed by mining industries. Natural gas accounted for 34 percent of the total purchased energy used, making it the most widely used fuel. Electric energy was the most expensive source of energy at $13.84 per million Btu. In order to provide figures by industry and geographic area on the basis of a comparable unit of energy used, data on fuels consumed were converted to British thermal units (Btu). A Btu is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. Btu factors reflect the energy content of the various fuels with no regard to efficiency of use. Since some fuel applications are considerably more efficient than others (none 100 percent efficient), the Btu figures must be considered as the maximum amount of available energy. The conversion factors used in computing these Btu are shown in the following table: Conversion to British Thermal Units: 1992 Kind of energy Btu (millions) ***************************************************************** Electric energy 1,000 kWh 3.412 Coal short tons 22.250 Crude petroleum barrels (42 gal) 5.800 Fuel oil: Distillate barrels (42 gal) 5.825 Residual barrels (42 gal) 6.287 Natural gas and residue gas MCF (1,000 cu ft) 1.030 Other fuels $1,000 210 Gasoline 1,000 gal 125 Undistributed $1,000 341