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 contacting said feedstock in at least one ebullated bed reaction zone with hydrogen and a hydrocracking catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal component and a cobalt component on a porous inorganic oxide support, wherein said Group VIB metal is present in an amount ranging from about 3.5 to about 5.0 wt.% calculated as an oxide and based on total catalyst weight, wherein said cobalt is present in an amount ranging from about 0.4 to about 0.8 wt.% calculated as an oxide and based on total catalyst weight, and wherein said catalyst has a surface area of about 150 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.