Residual oil conversion process

A process for the production of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbonaceous products which process comprises:

• (a) converting a heavy, asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous residual oil, wherein at least 80% of said residual oil boils above 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.), in the presence of hydrogen and a particulate catalyst at residual oil conversion conditions in a reaction zone to produce a liquid effluent stream comprising particulate catalyst and normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds;
• (b) contacting at least a portion of said liquid effluent stream from step (a) with water and a hydrocarbonaceous solvent comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon;
• (c) gravitationally separating the resulting admixture from step (b) into a solvent phase comprising said normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and essentially free of solids, and an aqueous phase comprising essentially all of said particulate catalyst;
• and
• (d) recycling at least a portion of said particulate catalyst recovered in step (c) to step (a).

A process for the production of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbonaceous products which process comprises:

• (a) converting a heavy, asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous residual oil, wherein at least 80% of said residual oil boils above 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.), in the presence of hydrogen and a particulate catalyst at residual oil conversion conditions in a reaction zone to produce an effluent stream comprising particulate catalyst, normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and a hydrogen-rich gas;
• (b) separating said effluent stream comprising particulate catalyst, normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and a hydrogen-rich gas to provide a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a liquid stream comprising particulate catalyst and normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds;
• (c) contacting at least a portion of said liquid stream comprising particulate catalyst and normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds recovered in step (b) with water and a hydrocarbonaceous solvent comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon;
• and
• (d) gravitationally separating the resulting admixture from step (c) into a solvent phase comprising said normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and essentially free of solids, and an aqueous phase comprising essentially all of said particulate catalyst.