Abstract: The effect of ultrasomic treatment on the hydrotreating of residue was studied using 4 vacuum residues. Ultrasonic treatment can change the average structure of residue and the content of SARA fractions, and the structure of asphaltene at the same time, improving the hydrogenation performance. The hydrogenation of residue after ultrasonic treatment makes a decrease in the yield of coke and residue of above 500℃ but a increase in the yield of gas, gasoline, diesel distillate fractions and VGO and an increase of about 6 to 10 percentage points in light oil yield. The conversion of residue is improved, and the upgrading action is apparent. The upgrading of residue with ultrasonic treatment is related to the material type. The changes can be explained by the syphonage model in a macro level. It is also found that the removal of heteroatom, especially vanadium metal, is improved with the average removal rate of over 96%. After hydrogenation of residue, SARA fractions of residue are changed, the content of saturate and asphaltene is increased, but the aromatic and resin is reduced.