Abstract: A process and equipment for extracting and disposing of sour reservoir components initially contained in natural hydrocarbons. The stream of natural hydrocarbons extracted from a reservoir is initially subjected to an optional gas/liquid separation. The gaseous hydrocarbons are then scrubbed with a liquid absorbent to dissolve sour reservoir components such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide and thereby form a solution. The liquid absorbent may be water that is preferably sufficiently free of oxygen and solids to be of a quality suitable for re-injection. The solution is pumped back into a well. The well may be the reservoir that produced the hydrocarbons, or adjacent geological formations, with the re-injected sour water being employed for production stimulation. Alternatively, the well may be a depleted reservoir. The scrubber may be a multiple-stage packed column or tray column that preferably allows for condensate skimming.