This paper summarizes the technical knowledge necessary to study the hydrocracking of heavy oil with dispersed catalysts. Chemical kinetics aspects of the hydrocracking of heavy oil reaction are reviewed. The discussion also includes a description of the experimental setups, operation modes and suitable reactors for conducting heavy oil hydrocracking experiments. Reactors and their hydrodynamics are described in order to establish the more appropriate operating conditions to perform the experiments. The most common catalyst precursors used in the reaction are listed as well as the analytical techniques employed in characterizing and quantifying gas, liquid and solid samples. Procedures for pretreatment of feed, catalyst dispersion and sulfurization of catalyst precursors are also presented (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.