A method and apparatus for conversion of petroleum resid fluid through atomization and pyrolysis, including: generating a stream of atomized resid fluid; and delivering the stream to a plurality of cracking particles, wherein the cracking particles have a temperature from 700° C. to 1200° C. when the stream is delivered. Generating the stream of atomized resid fluid may include: delivering heated resid fluid to a nozzle; and delivering diluent fluid to the nozzle. A method and apparatus includes: a first multi-phase fluid application device configured to generate a first stream of atomized resid fluid; a port configured to guide a plurality of cracking particles to intersect the first stream; and a particle heating component configured to heat the cracking particles before the particles intersect the first stream.