Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is introduced to the ebullated bed system with the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from at least a water-soluble metal precursor and pre-sulfided prior to being introduced with the heavy oil feedstock to the reactor system, or sulfided in-situ in the ebullated bed reactor in another embodiment.

Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is introduced to the ebullated bed system with the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from at least a water-soluble metal precursor and pre-sulfided prior to being introduced with the heavy oil feedstock to the reactor system, or sulfided in-situ in the ebullated bed reactor in another embodiment.