Say, do either of you chaps have to hand an article or link that describes what LCC and VLCC transport of heavy sour crude does to hulls and discharge equipment? I think our good friends on this thread would benefit from a detailed account, esp. any info on the effect of extended exposure.
Sour crude, crude containing H2S- hydrogen sulfide, is nothing new. It is one of the many corrosion mechanisms faced in the oil/gas industry.
I am unfamiliar with tankers and their design, but I wouldn't be surprised if their storage tanks were lined with an epoxy coating. I would guess that when transporting crude, sour or sweet, corrosion inhibitors are used to mitigate the threat. (
Corrosion Inhibitors )
A big factor is the amount of water/moisture present in the oil, necessary to drive corrosion. I think that H2S would present more challenges when it comes to the refining stage.
Correct on the refining side. Not all refineries can tolerate this stuff, but more and more plants are “souring up.”