Efficient hydroprocessing and solvent deasphalting of heavy oil with sequential addition of dispersed catalyst

Combined hydroprocessing and solvent deasphalting with sequential addition of a dispersed catalyst to process heavy oil without increasing equipment fouling. An example method includes: hydroprocessing heavy oil containing dispersed catalyst particles to yield upgraded heavy oil; subjecting a resid portion of the upgraded heavy oil to solvent deasphalting to produce DAO and pitch; and hydroprocessing the deasphalted oil containing dispersed catalyst particles to yield upgraded deasphalted oil. An example system includes: mixer(s) for blending catalyst precursor with heavy oil to form conditioned feedstock; heater to decompose catalyst precursor and form dispersed catalyst particles in situ; hydroprocessing reactor(s) for hydroprocessing heavy oil to yield upgraded heavy oil; solvent deasphalting system to separate DAO from pitch; mixer(s) for blending catalyst precursor with deasphalted oil to form conditioned deasphalted oil; heater to decompose catalyst precursor and form dispersed catalyst particles in situ; and hydroprocessing reactor(s) for hydroprocessing deasphalted oil yield upgraded deasphalted oil.