Abstract: An asphalt containing petroleum oil is deasphalted and extracted by contacting the oil with a solvent maintained at its critical temperature and pressure. With the solvent at its critical temperature and pressure, extraction of the valuable hydrocarbon oils present in the asphaltic feedstock is effected by way of vapor-liquid phase separation which serves to decompose the metal complexes present in the feedstock, thus reducing the metal content of the extracted hydrocarbon oil. Examples of solvents employed in the process of the invention include C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 cuts of typical refinery streams, benzene, toluene, ethylene glycols and the like. In one process embodiment, promoters or catalyst are employed to further reduce the metal content of the extracted hydrocarbon oil.