Problems Associated with Sour Gas in the Oilfield Industry and Their Solutions

Fossil fuels are still a necessary and important part of modern living, keeping cars running and houses heated for example. As demands have risen and reservoirs of oil and natural gas have depleted, it has become increasingly more important to tap into fields that were once classified as undesirable. Sour fields, fields high in acidic gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, are one such option. There are many difficulties and dangers associated with working sour fields, such as toxicity of the sour gases, hydrate formation, and corrosion of equipment, that have prevented these resources from being used in the past. Many varied methods of overcoming these problems have been developed, from removing the sour components to inhibiting their effects. This review highlights the major issues raised by sour fields as well as a wide range of solutions in use today.