Study into the effects of the feedstock properties and stability on the catalytic hydrocracking of heavy oil

•The stabilities of various heavy oil feedstocks (VR, UCOs, SDA, Asp) were examined.•High MCR content correlated with higher aromaticity and shorter alkyl side chains.•Higher MCR contents led to increased coke yields and decreased DAO yields.•Stable feedstocks produced less coke, greater DAO yields, and fewer impurities.•Combining the MCR and CII values allows rapid evaluation of the feedstock quality.