Dewatering apparatus, systems, and methods

A method for dewatering a subterranean formation adjacent a sulfur recovery unit, comprising:

• providing at least one submersible pump positioned in a subterranean formation adjacent at least one sulfur tank installed at least partially in the subterranean formation, the at least one sulfur tank comprising a top surface at or near a terranean surface, a volume that extends below the terranean surface into the subterranean formation, and a sump that is below a water table level in the subterranean formation at a low tide level, the at least one sulfur tank configured to store sulfur extracted, in a sulfur recovery unit, from a sour gas produced from a hydrocarbon fluid;
• sensing, with at least one liquid level sensor positioned in a borehole formed into the subterranean formation adjacent to and separate from the at least one sulfur tank, a level of a liquid in the subterranean formation adjacent the at least one sulfur tank;
• determining that the sensed level of the liquid exceeds a threshold level;
• and
• based on the determination, operating the at least one submersible pump to circulate at least a portion of the liquid from the subterranean formation, into at least one conduit fluidly coupled to the at least one submersible pump, and to the terranean surface through the at least one conduit.

A dewatering system, comprising:

• a subterranean pump positionable in a borehole formed from the terranean surface adjacent a sulfur pit and into a subterranean formation that comprises water, the sulfur pit comprising an opening at the terranean surface and a volume that extends below the terranean surface into the subterranean formation with a low level that is below a water table level in the subterranean formation at a low tide level;
• at least one conduit fluidly coupled to the subterranean pump and configured to extend from the pump to a terranean surface;
• a water level sensor positionable in the borehole to measure a level of the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the sulfur pit;
• and
• a control system communicably coupled to the subterranean pump and the water level sensor and configured to perform operations comprising:
• identifying a water level sensed by the water level sensor,
• determining that the water level exceeds a threshold level, and
• based on the determination, activating the subterranean pump to remove water from the subterranean formation into the at least one conduit.