Systems and methods for processing heavy oils

According to one embodiment, a heavy oil may be processed by a method that may include upgrading at least a portion of the heavy oil to form an upgraded oil, where the upgrading comprising contacting the heavy oil with a hydrodemetalization catalyst, a transition catalyst, a hydrodenitrogenation catalyst, a first hydrocracking catalyst, and a second hydrocracking catalyst downstream of the first hydrocracking catalyst to remove at least a portion of metals, nitrogen, or aromatics content from the heavy oil and form the upgraded oil. The final boiling point of the upgraded oil may be less than or equal to 540 °C. The second hydrocracking catalyst cracks at least a portion of vacuum gas oil in the heavy oil. The first hydrocracking catalyst may comprise a greater average pore size than the second hydrocracking catalyst. fig1