The physicochemical properties of heavy and super-heavy oils, problems and methods of processing oil residues and unconventional hydrocarbon stocks with high sulfur, metal, asphaltene, and resin contents are studied. The characteristics of catalytic and non-catalytic oil residue processing technologies are compared and ways of conversion of unconventional oils into synthetic oil are shown. The advantages of gasification of super-heavy residues, including in blend with solid fuels, with production of synthesis gas - a feedstock for oil chemistry and synthetic oil and hydrogen production - are analyzed.