What is one challenge of sour crude oil refinement?

The challenge of higher operational costs due to sulfur processing is a significant factor when it comes to refining sour crude oil. Sour crude contains a higher concentration of sulfur compared to sweet crude. The presence of sulfur necessitates the implementation of additional processing steps to remove it from the crude oil during refining. This desulfurization process requires specialized equipment and technologies, which can be expensive to install and operate. Moreover, the additional processing means longer processing times and increased energy consumption, further contributing to the overall operational costs.

Refiners must ensure that the final products meet stringent environmental regulations regarding sulfur content, which adds to the complexity and cost of the refining operation. This makes higher operational costs a prominent challenge in the refinement of sour crude oil.