A method for the dynamic treatment of petroleum feedstock is proposed; its use in an artificially-created, supersonic two-phase flow with shock waves leads to an alteration in the feedstock properties. It was found that the yield of light fractions considerably increased and the chemical composition changed after crude oil pretreatment according to this method. Possible mechanisms of the processes occurring in the system are discussed. Proposals for further study of the method as applied to petroleum chemistry are made.