Reply #12: Increase accident? Compatible with having to refine "Sour" oil instead of "Sweet" Oil.

[happyslug]

"Sour" and "Sweet" are terms of art in the Oil Industry. Sour oil, is oil which contains more than 1% hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The sulfide MUST be removed before it can be processed. From what I have read, almost ALL of the new oil being introduced into the market is "Sour oil". When you have to refine Sour oil, Refineries MUST do more maintenance, so parts wear out quicker do to the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) AND accidents increase for the Sulfide erode parts quicker than if the plant was refining "Sweet Oil". Thus the accidents, and reduction of refineries being on line may have to do with the fact Sweet oil is in decline and all that can be found to replace Sweet oil in Sour oil. The more Sour oil that a plant has to refine, the more down time in the refinery do to increase maintenance AND do to increase accidents as the Sulfide eats at the various parts of the Refinery.

None of this is mentioned in the Article, but explains the INCREASE accidents better then the excuse used in the auricle.

Definition of "Sour" oil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sour_crude_oil