Investigations on pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis of residue from the Polish commercial hydrocracking unit were carried out at following conditions: temperature 700 degrees C to 770 degrees C, contact time 0,9 s. For comparison, the same tests were carried out with lighter cuts from crude oil distillation. It has been shown that hydrocracking residue is a valuable raw material for olefin production and that yields of ethylene and its homologues are similar as in the case of lower hydrocarbons fraction. The residue was shown to be sensitive to catalytic activity of hydrogen. In comparison to conventional steam cracking, the ethylene and ethane yields were several points higher in the case of hydropyrolysis. In the process of hydropyrolysis the rate of coke formation decreases.