Chevron Technical Center and ZL Chemicals have signed a technology licensing agreement aimed at accelerating the commercial rollout of advanced chemical surfactant technology designed to improve resource recovery in shale and tight reservoirs.

Under the agreement, ZL Chemicals will commercialize Chevron-developed surfactant technology through its Vantis product and service platform, bringing the technology to a broader customer base across the oil and gas industry.

Chevron, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, has developed and deployed advanced surfactant technologies to enhance recovery from unconventional reservoirs. The partnership combines Chevron’s technology development capabilities with ZL’s commercial expertise, manufacturing strength, and field-service experience.

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.”

The Vantis portfolio is expected to support enhanced oil recovery programs in shale and tight reservoirs, including base-well optimization and new-well performance improvement initiatives.

ZL Chemicals will market and deploy products and services using the licensed technology, providing operators with a full-service approach that includes laboratory evaluation, quality assurance and quality control, application design, field deployment, and execution.

"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."