Process for solvent deasphalting of residual hydrocarbon oils

In a process for solvent deasphalting an asphaltene-containing residual hydrocarbon oil, wherein the residual oil is contacted with a light hydrocarbon solvent, in an extraction zone, deasphalting conditions are maintained to allow the formation of a liquid solvent-deasphalted oil phase and a fluid solvent-asphalt phase, the two resultant phases are separated and the solvent is separately vaporized from each of the two phases, so as to separately obtain a deasphalted oil and an asphaltic residue, the improvement comprising:

• a. passing a portion of the deasphalted oil, substantially freed of solvent, through a zone of indirect heating by flame, so as to raise its temperature;
• b. contacting the reheated deasphalted oil from step (a), in indirect heat exchange relation, with the fluid solvent-asphalt phase, so as to deliver to said phase at least a part of the heat necessaary to vaporize the solvent therein;
• and
• c. admixing the deasphalted oil, after the heat exchanger of step (b), with the liquid solvent-deasphalted oil phase recovered from the extraction zone.