IT'S NOT ABOUT WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS.
IT'S ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
High concentrations of H2S, or hydrogen sulfide, in sour crude oil is not only extremely corrosive to storage tanks, pipelines and rail cars, but it is also highly flammable and can be potentially lethal if not treated properly.
SOUR CRUDE'S STATUS QUO
Hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in some petroleum reservoirs -- other fields have been shown to turn sour with the injection of water for enhanced recovery. In either scenario, sour crude has to be stabilized before it can be safely stored or transported. As a result, the removal of H2S from crude oil is a constant concern to drilling operators, midstream companies, and refineries.
TODAY'S SUBPAR SOLUTIONS
Most conventional H2S mitigation methods are less than ideal. Removal agents, typically chemical solutions, can leave additives that contaminate the crude. Other methods can cause a loss in crude oil volumes. Despite their shortcomings, these methods prevail because no one has demanded a higher standard … UNTIL NOW.