Process for demetallation and desulfurization of heavy hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A process for the hydrodemetallation, hydrodesulfurization, and hydrocracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock containing asphaltenes, metals, and Shell hot filtration solids precursors and the conversion of at least 30 vol. % of the feedstock fraction boiling over 1,000° F. to material boiling below 1,000° F. which comprises: (a) contacting said feedstock in a first reaction zone with hydrogen and a demetallation catalyst comprising a Group VIB hydrogenation metal component on a porous inorganic oxide support, wherein said Group VIB metal is present in an amount rangin from about 3.0 to about 8.0 wt. % calculated as an oxide and based on total demetallation catalyst weight, and wherein said catalyst has a surface area of about 150 m 2 /gm to about 220 m 2 /gm; a total pore volume of about 0.85 to about 1.5 cc/gm; and a pore volume in pores having diameters larger than 1,200 Å of about 0.15 to about 0.4 cc/gm; and (b) contacting the effluent from said first reaction zone in a second reaction zone with a desulfurization catalyst comprrsing a hydrogenation metal component comprising a Group VIB metal and a Group VIII metal on a porous inorganic oxide support, wherein said Group VIB metal is present in an amount ranging from about 10.0 to about 20.0 wt. % calculated as an oxide and based on total desulfurization catalyst weight, and said Group VIII metal is present in an amount ranging from about 2.0 to about 5.0 wt. % calculated as an oxide and based on total desulfurization catalyst weight, and wherein said catalyst has a surface area of about 250 m 2 /gm to about 350 m 2 /gm, a total pore volume of about 0.7 to about 1.1 cc/gm and a pore volume in pores having diameters larger than 1,200 Å of about 0.1 to about 0.25 cc/gm.