Abstract: A process for treating heavy crude oil feedstocks to reduce the asphaltenes, metals and sulfur content thereof while maintaining a high conversion thereof comprising: subjecting the feedstock to an asphaltene separation stage and thereafter subjecting the deasphaltene crude to a first hydrotreatment stage employing a first macroporous catalyst so as to produce an intermediate partially demetallized and desulfurized product and thereafter treating said intermediate product in a second hydrotreatment stage using a microporous catalyst wherein the microporous catalyst exhibits extended life period.

Abstract: A process for separating finely divided solid particles from a hydroprocessing liquid product which comprises treating a heavy hydrocarbon feed having an asphaltene content of at least 1 wt. % so as to obtain an unstable product characterized by heavy molecular weight molecules which promote the agglomeration of said finely divided solid particles and thereafter feeding said unstable product to a precipitating zone provided with a centrifugal decanter for precipitating the agglomerated solid particles and said heavy molecular weight molecules in said precipitating zone wherein at least 80 wt. % of the finely divided solid particles is recovered.

Abstract: A process for upgrading feedstocks containing not less than about 200 ppm metals, an API gravity of less than about 20.degree., a Conradson Carbon of more than about 8%, by hydroconversion with hydrogen in the presence of a naturally occurring inorganic material as a catalyst. The invention further provides, inter alia, subsequently fractionating the hydroconverted product and solvent deasphalting the distillation bottoms and optionally hydrodesulfurizing atmospheric distillates and the mix of vacuum gas oils and deasphalted oils separately. When a heavy crude of 12.degree. API, 10% Conradson Carbon, 3.2% sulfur and 350 ppm metals is fed to this process, more than 90% (v/v) of a synthetic crude of 25.degree.API, 0.17% sulfur and only 13.8% (v/v) 950.degree. F.+ fraction may be obtained.