On-line liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), in combination with low-voltage electron-impact ionization (LVEI)/medium-resolution mass spectrometry (MRMS, resolution approximately 10 000) and advanced data analysis procedures, provides us with an opportunity for in-depth molecular level characterization of high-boiling petroleum or synthetic fuel fractions. This combined technique has been applied to the studies of molecular transformation of a petroleum hydro-treating process on different levels: overfall changes of hydrocarbons and heteroatom-containing hydrocarbons, compositional changes in terms of compound series, and changes in carbon number distribution within individual compound series. The usefulness of LC/LVEI/MRMS for unraveling some of the complex chemistry associated with heavy hydrocarbon processes has been demonstrated.