Slurry hydroconversion process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons

A method for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feed, comprising:

• splitting an initial feedstock to form a heavy hydrocarbon feed and a second feedstock portion, the heavy hydrocarbon feed comprising 15 wt % to 95 wt % of the initial feedstock,
• wherein the initial feedstock comprises a first diluent;
• separating the heavy hydrocarbon feed to form a first fraction comprising 50 wt % or more of a 566° C.+ portion, a bypass fraction comprising 566° C.+ portion, a diluent fraction comprising the first diluent, and one or more additional fractions comprising a 177° C.+ portion, the heavy hydrocarbon feed comprising an API gravity of 15° or less;
• exposing at least a portion of the first fraction and a pitch recycle stream to slurry hydroconversion conditions at a combined feed ratio of 1.5 or more to form a hydroconverted effluent, the hydroconversion conditions comprising a total conversion of 60 wt % to 89 wt % relative to 524° C.;
• separating at least the pitch recycle stream and a second hydroconverted fraction comprising a 177° C.+ portion from the hydroconverted effluent, the pitch recycle stream comprising more than 50 wt % of 566° C.+ components;
• and
• blending at least the second feedstock portion, the bypass fraction, the one or more additional fractions, and at least a portion of the second hydroconverted fraction to form a heavy hydrocarbon product having a kinematic viscosity at 7.5° C. of 500 cSt or less and an API gravity of 18° or more,
• wherein optionally the heavy hydrocarbon product comprises 5 wt % to 15 wt % of the bypass fraction relative to a weight of the heavy hydrocarbon product, and
• wherein optionally a vacuum gas oil fraction of the heavy hydrocarbon product comprises 0.1 wt % to 2.0 wt % of n-pentane insolubles relative to a weight of the vacuum gas oil fraction.