Decontamination of Sulfur Contaminants from Hydrocarbons

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.