Chevron and ZL Chemicals Announce Technology Licensing Agreement for Advanced Chemical Surfactant Technology

Vantis™ technology developed to enhance resource recovery in shale and tight reservoirs.

Chevron Technical Center, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, has signed a technology licensing agreement with ZL Chemicals Ltd, allowing the company to commercialize Chevron's proprietary chemical surfactant technology. ZL plans to market products and services based on the licensed technology under the Vantis™ brand.

Developed by Chevron to enhance resource recovery in unconventional reservoirs, the advanced surfactant technology has been successfully applied in the company's operations. Through this licensing agreement, Chevron aims to expand the commercial adoption of the technology and make it available to a broader range of customers.

“Technology creates more value when it can be applied broadly,” said Ryder Booth, chief technology and engineering officer of Chevron Corporation. “Advanced chemicals are one of Chevron’s areas of differentiation and have supported innovation in our own operations. Through this licensing agreement, we’re creating a pathway for ZL to bring this technology to a broader market, and at scale.”

Under the agreement, ZL will commercialize and market products and services under the Vantis™ brand utilizing the licensed technology. The Vantis™ product offering is expected to support applications in shale and tight reservoirs, including base well enhanced oil recovery programs and new well-optimization efforts.

“We are pleased to work with Chevron to expand access to this technology across a broader customer base,” said Echo Liu, President of ZL Chemicals. “At ZL Chemicals, we are focused on delivering enhanced oil recovery chemistry and field services designed to support operators’ production and reservoir management objectives. Vantis™ represents the type of technology our customers are seeking, and we are positioned to deliver it as a scalable, turnkey service — from lab evaluation and QA/QC through application design, on-site deployment, and field execution. We look forward to supporting operators in their efforts to enhance recovery and extend the productive life of their assets across shale and tight reservoirs.”

The agreement brings together Chevron's expertise in technology development and ZL Chemicals' commercial capabilities and established customer network. Under the partnership, Chevron will continue advancing next-generation surfactant technologies for its own operations, while ZL will commercialize products and services based on the licensed technology, expanding its availability to the broader market.