The upgrading of vacuum residue (VR) in supercritical methanol (scMeOH) was investigated without using catalysts. Various process parameters, including temperature (350-425 degrees C), reaction time (30-90 min), and additives (toluene and hydrogen) were explored to optimize the yield of light fraction oil (LFO) with few impurities. At a 400 degrees C, 16.7 wt% of VR in methanol for 60 min, the LFO produced in scMeOH contained very low asphaltene content (0.74 wt%) and a very low amount of heteroatom/metallic impurities (S, 3.58 wt%; N, non detectable; Ni, 10.4 ppm; V, 36.9 ppm, Fe, 7.3 ppm). In addition, the naptha-to-diesel fraction increased from 1 wt% (VR feed) to 15 wt% and the saturate + aromatic content increased from 43.7 area% (VR feed) to 59.6 area% in the LFO. When the reaction time was extended to 90 min at 400 degrees C, a complete removal of asphaltenes could be achieved.