Upgrading of bitumen and heavy crude oils is still a technology challenging and energy intensive activity. Due to their high density and viscosity it is difficult to handle and to transport them to locations where they could be converted into valuable products. Besides, significant processing, either hydrogenation or carbon rejection, or both are required due to their low atomic H/C ratios. In addition, the level of contaminants such as sulphur, metals and nitrogen present in bitumen are significantly higher than those present in conventional crude oils. This means that the metallurgy and the equipment designed for the handling and processing of more conventional crude oils need to be upgraded and eventually changed. Significant resources and intense research activities have been devoted to many different aspects of the problems associated with bitumen production and processing.