Process and apparatus for upgrading hydrocarbon feeds containing sulfur, metals, and asphaltenes

A process for producing a distillate stream from a heavy hydrocarbon feed stream comprising

• a) solvent deasphalting said feed for producing a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphaltene fraction;
• b) forming a hydrogen donor diluent;
• c) heating and thermal cracking said deasphalted oil fraction in the presence of said hydrogen donor diluent in a thermal cracking zone for forming a thermally cracked stream;
• d) fractionating said thermally cracked stream in a fractionating zone to produce a distilled fraction which constitutes said distillate stream, and a non-distilled fraction which constitutes said feed stream;
• and
• e) wherein said hydrogen donor diluent is produced by hydrotreating a portion of said distillate stream.

A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed stream containing sulfur, metals, and asphaltenes, said process comprising:

• a) cracking said hydrocarbon feed stream to form a cracked hydrocarbon feed stream;
• b) applying said cracked hydrocarbon feed stream to a distillation column for producing a substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free distillate fraction and a non-distilled fraction containing sulfur, asphaltenes, and metals;
• c) converting at least some of said substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free distillate fraction to a hydrogen donor diluent;
• d) processing said non-distilled fraction in a solvent deasphalting unit for producing a deasphalted oil stream and an asphaltene stream;
• e) combining said hydrogen donor diluent with said deasphalted oil stream to form a combined stream;
• f) thermal cracking said combined stream for forming a thermally cracked stream;
• and
• g) applying said thermally cracked stream to said distillation column.