Multi-stage hydrotreating process and apparatus

A hydrotreating process comprising the steps of:

• charging a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream to furnace means for transferring heat energy into said hydrocarbon-containing feed stream to produce a heated hydrocarbon feed mixture;
• transferring heat energy from a hydrodemetallized hydrocarbon stream to said heated hydrocarbon feed mixture by indirect heat exchange to produce a heated reactor charge stream and a cooled hydrodemetallized hydrocarbon stream;
• contacting said heated reactor charge stream with a hydrodemetallization catalyst to produce said hydrodemetallized hydrocarbon stream;
• contacting said cooled hydrodemetallized hydrocarbon stream with a hydrodesulfurization catalyt to produce a hydrodesulfurized hydrocarbon effluent stream;
• separating said hydrodesulfurized hydrocarbon effluent stream into a first fluid comprising hydrogen gas and hydrocarbon gas and a second fluid comprising hydrocarbon liquid;
• passing said first fluid through at least one heat exchange means for the indirect transfer of heat energy;
• and
• transferring heat energy from said first fluid to said hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, prior to charging said hydrocarbon-containing feed stream to said furnace means, by said at least one heat exchange means.