Abstract: A process for the production of a pipeline-transportable crude oil from a bitumen feed, the process comprising: (1) dividing the bitumen feed into two fractions, the first fraction comprising between 20 and 80 wt % of the feed, the second fraction comprising between 80 and 20 wt % of the total feed, (the two fraction together forming 100 wt % of the feed), (2) distillation of the first fraction obtained in step (1) (preferably under vacuum) into a light fraction boiling below 380° C. (preferably the 450° C. fraction, more preferably the 510° C. fraction) and a residual fraction; (3) thermal cracking (of at least part of, preferably all of,) the residual fraction obtained in the distillation process described in step (2); (4) distillation of the product obtained in step (3) into one or more light fractions (boiling below 350° C.), optionally one or more intermediate fractions (boiling between 350 and 510° C.) and a heavy fraction (boiling above at least 350° C.