Methods for producing a crude product, methods for preparing a diluted hydrocarbon composition, crude products, diluents and uses of such crude products and diluents are described. The method includes contacting of a hydrocarbon feed with one or more catalysts, where at least one of the catalyst includes one or more metals from Column 6 of the Periodic Table and/or one or more compounds of one or more metals from Columns 6 of the Periodic Table. The method produces a crude product having a MCR content of at most 90% of MCR content of the hydrocarbon feed and having total content of UV aromatics in a VGO fraction of the crude product which is greater than or equal to the total UV aromatics content of the hydrocarbon feed VGO fraction of the hydrocarbon feed. The crude product may be separated into two or more portions, which portions may be useful as a diluent.