Conversion of asphaltene-containing charge stocks

A process for the conversion of an asphaltene-containing, hydrocarbonaceous black oil, and the recovery of deasphalted oil therefrom, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) reacting said black oil, hydrogen, a hereinafter described recycle stream comprising unreacted asphaltenes, a metal catalyst selected from the iron-group metals and the metals from Group V-B and VI-B, and a deasphalted oil in a reaction zone at conversion conditions selected to convert asphaltenic material into lower-boiling hydrocarbons;
• (b) separating the resulting reaction product effluent, in a gas-liquid separation zone, to provide (i) a hydrogen-rich first vaporous phase and, (ii) a first liquid phase, containing metal catalyst and unreacted asphaltenes, and recycling at least a portion of said first vaporous phase to combine with said black oil;
• (c) deasphalting said first liquid phase with a hydrocarbon-selective solvent comprising a light hydrocarbon having from about 3 to about 9 carbon atoms per molecule in a solvent extraction zone to provide (i) a solvent-rich second liquid phase, containing deasphalted oil, and, (ii) a solvent-lean mixture of unreacted asphaltenes and metal catalyst;
• (d) admixing at least a portion of said solvent-lean mixture of unreacted asphaltenes and metal catalyst with a portion of said solvent-rich second liquid phase, containing deasphalted oil;
• (e) removing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon selective solvent from the admixture produced in step (d) in a solvent recovery zone to provide said hereinabove described recycle stream;
• and
• (f) separating a portion of said solvent-rich second liquid phase in a second solvent recovery zone to provide (i) a stream comprising said hydrocarbon-selective solvent, and recycling at least a portion of said stream to said solvent extraction zone and (ii) a substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil.