Recycle of slurry hydrocracked product to a subsequent slurry hydrocracking reactor downstream of a lead slurry hydrocracking reactor produces reduced mesophase and provides better reactor stability as opposed to recycle to the lead slurry hydrocracking reactor. The recycle stream may be a vacuum bottoms stream and/or a slop wax stream from a fractionation column.

A method of reducing catalyst agglomeration in a slurry hydrocracking zone containing at least two reactors is described. A hydrocarbon feed and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst are contacted in a first reactor to form a first effluent containing slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, wherein the slurry hydrocracking catalyst agglomerates. The first effluent and an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst are contacted in a second reactor to form a second effluent containing the slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and asphaltene reaction products.

A method of reducing catalyst agglomeration in a slurry hydrocracking zone containing at least two reactors is described. A hydrocarbon feed and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst are contacted in a first reactor to form a first effluent containing slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, wherein the slurry hydrocracking catalyst agglomerates. The first effluent and an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst are contacted in a second reactor to form a second effluent containing the slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and asphaltene reaction products.

A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The process comprises hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed to produce a first hydrocracking product stream, separating the first hydrocracking product stream to form a gas stream and a liquid stream, hydrocracking the liquid stream to produce a second hydrocracking product stream, separating the second hydrocracking product stream to form a first light stream and a first heavy stream comprising benzene, toluene, xylene, C.sub.9+ hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, purifying the gas stream to form a purified gas stream, and separating the purified gas stream to form at least two of a hydrogen stream, C.sub.1 stream, C.sub.2 stream, C.sub.3 stream, C.sub.4 stream, C.sub.5+ stream, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The process comprises hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed to produce a first hydrocracking product stream, separating the first hydrocracking product stream to form a gas stream and a liquid stream, hydrocracking the liquid stream to produce a second hydrocracking product stream, separating the second hydrocracking product stream to form a first light stream and a first heavy stream comprising benzene, toluene, xylene, C.sub.9+ hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, purifying the gas stream to form a purified gas stream, and separating the purified gas stream to form at least two of a hydrogen stream, C.sub.1 stream, C.sub.2 stream, C.sub.3 stream, C.sub.4 stream, C.sub.5+ stream, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Techniques for processing residuum include receiving a feed stream that includes a residuum hydrocarbon fraction at an ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor; contacting the residuum hydrocarbon fraction with hydrogen and a hydroconversion catalyst in the ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor to produce a partially converted reactor effluent product; separating, in a first separation zone, the partially converted reactor effluent product into a distillate stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream; feeding the distillate stream to a bottom portion of an integrated hydrocracking/hydrofinishing reactor; and feeding the heavy hydrocarbon stream to a top portion of the hydrofinishing reactor.

Techniques for processing residuum include receiving a feed stream that includes a residuum hydrocarbon fraction at an ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor; contacting the residuum hydrocarbon fraction with hydrogen and a hydroconversion catalyst in the ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor to produce a partially converted reactor effluent product; separating, in a first separation zone, the partially converted reactor effluent product into a distillate stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream; feeding the distillate stream to a bottom portion of an integrated hydrocracking/hydrofinishing reactor; and feeding the heavy hydrocarbon stream to a top portion of the hydrofinishing reactor.

The present invention discloses a process by which the heavy hydrocarbons are subjected to hydroprocessing for producing distillates which can be further treated or converted downstream, to fuels and chemicals.

Supercritical upgrading reactors and reactor systems are provided for upgrading a petroleum-based composition using one or more purging fluid inlets to prevent plugging of the catalyst layer in the reactor. Processes for upgrading petroleum-based compositions by utilizing a reactor having at least one purging fluid inlet are also provided.

Supercritical upgrading reactors and reactor systems are provided for upgrading a petroleum-based composition using one or more purging fluid inlets to prevent plugging of the catalyst layer in the reactor. Processes for upgrading petroleum-based compositions by utilizing a reactor having at least one purging fluid inlet are also provided.