Patent ID: 7214308

Claim:
A process of relieving downstream burdens and fouling in a resid conversion/upgrading unit, said method comprising the steps of: a) feeding a atmospheric or vacuum residue feedstock, 30%–100% of said feedstock boiling above 975° F., to a solvent deasphalter (“SDA”) having a C 4 /C 5 solvent to provide an asphaltene stream and a deasphalted oil stream; b) processing said asphaltene stream through one or more ebullated-bed reactors to create; and c) processing said deasphalted oil stream through at least one ebullated-bed reactor, said ebullated-bed reactor or reactors different and feedstock optimized from those used to process said asphaltene stream; wherein steps a–c achieve an overall residue conversion of greater than 65%.