Patent ID: 7618530

Claim:
A method for the hydroconversion of a heavy oil comprising (a) introducing a heavy oil feedstock and hydrogen into a first reaction zone containing a resid hydrocracking catalyst; (b) maintaining said first reaction zone at a temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, and sufficient residence time to add between 100 and 500 standard cubic feet of hydrogen per barrel of the first reaction zone heavy oil feed; (c) separating said first reaction zone liquid product and gaseous products; (d) rapidly heating said the first reaction zone liquid product to between 500 and 800° C. in a second reaction zone by combusting an oxidant and fuel at elevated pressure; allowing the combustion products to expand to a lower pressure to form a high velocity jet; and rapidly heating the liquid product from the first reaction zone with the said high velocity jet; (e) providing sufficient residence time to convert between 70 and 90% of the reside to distillates; and (f) rapidly quenching said second reaction zone product to less than 400° C., thereby inhibiting the formation of coke.