Decontamination of Sulfur Contaminants from Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a hydrocarbon. The method comprises introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide to a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises the hydrocarbon, and wherein the hydrocarbon comprises hydrogen sulfide; and treating the hydrocarbon by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the hydrogen sulfide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a hydrocarbon, comprising:
 (A) introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide into wellhead equipment, wherein a hydrocarbon is disposed in the wellhead equipment, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises sour gas comprising sulfur contaminants, and further wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced to the sour gas;   (B) introducing steam into the wellhead equipment;   (C) treating the sour gas by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the sulfur contaminants, wherein treating the sour gas comprises converting the sulfur contaminants to elemental sulfur.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising (D) removing at least a portion of the elemental sulfur from the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellhead equipment comprises a gas conduit disposed within an outer casing of a wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced directly into the gas conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced directly into the outer casing of the wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the methylmorpholine-N-oxide in the hydrocarbon is between about 0.01 weight volume % and about 60 weight volume % of the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution is introduced to the hydrocarbon in an amount to provide a mole ratio of methylmorpholine-N-oxide to hydrogen sulfide in the vessel from about 1.0 mole methylmorpholine-N-oxide: 1.0 mole hydrogen sulfide to about about 3.0 moles methylmorpholine-N-oxide: 1.0 mole hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam comprises 150 psig steam or less. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the steam into the well equipment increases the temperature of the hydrocarbon to a temperature of from about 70° F. to about 150° F. 
     
     
         10 . A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a hydrocarbon, comprising:
 (A) introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide into wellhead equipment, wherein a hydrocarbon is disposed in the wellhead equipment, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises sour crude comprising sulfur contaminants, and further wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced to the sour crude;   (B) introducing steam into the wellhead equipment;   (C) treating the sour crude by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the sulfur contaminants, wherein treating the sour crude comprises converting the sulfur contaminants to elemental sulfur.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising (D) removing at least a portion of the elemental sulfur from the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wellhead equipment comprises a liquid conduit disposed within an outer casing of a wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced directly into the liquid conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide is introduced directly into the outer casing of the wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the concentration of the methylmorpholine-N-oxide in the hydrocarbon is between about 0.01 weight volume % and about 60 weight volume % of the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution is introduced to the hydrocarbon in an amount to provide a mole ratio of methylmorpholine-N-oxide to hydrogen sulfide in the vessel from about 1.0 mole methylmorpholine-N-oxide: 1.0 mole hydrogen sulfide to about about 3.0 moles methylmorpholine-N-oxide: 1.0 mole hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the steam comprises 150 psig steam or less. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein introducing the steam into the wellhead equipment increases the temperature of the hydrocarbon to a temperature of from about 70° F. to about 150° F.