Removing unstable sulfur compounds from crude oil.

A system for reducing the sulfur content of a crude oil, including:

• a. a catalytic material comprising a metallic species selected from the group consisting of Fe3+, Zn2+, Co3+, Ni2+.
• b. a stripping fluid, comprising a natural gas or a process gas, for contacting the crude oil at a temperature in the range of 100° F. to 450° F. and at a pressure in the range of 15 psia to 200 psia, and in the presence of the catalytic material;
• and
• c. a treatment zone comprising a fluid inlet for passing the stripping fluid into the treatment zone, a crude oil inlet for passing the crude oil into the treatment zone, and a bed of the catalytic material positioned within the treatment zone such that the crude oil and the stripping fluid are together contacted within the bed of catalytic material.