Lubricant Base Oils (Group I/II/III) for Engine Oil & Industrial Lubricants

Shell plc (London; LSE/NYSE: SHEL; market cap ~$200B) is a major global natural gas producer and the operator of record for the Groningen gas field (Netherlands) — once the largest natural gas field in Europe with reserves of ~2.8 tcm. Shell (through NAM, a 50/50 joint venture with ExxonMobil) has operated Groningen since 1963. Groningen production was progressively phased down after induced seismicity (earthquakes, 3.5+ Richter) in Groningen province caused structural damage to tens of thousands of homes and generated sustained public opposition. The Dutch government ordered accelerated closure; Groningen production ceased entirely in October 2023 — removing the EU's primary domestic gas supply buffer. Shell also operates the Prelude Floating LNG (FLNG) facility off northwest Australia (world's largest FLNG vessel, 3.6 mtpa), and holds significant gas positions in UK North Sea, Permian Basin, and offshore Brunei.

World's largest Group III base oil producer (Yubase brand); a subsidiary of SK Innovation (SK Group, South Korea). Operates the world's largest Group III base oil plant at Ulsan, South Korea with ~2.5 million MT/yr capacity. Yubase Group III is the dominant base oil used in "synthetic" engine oils globally (Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Shell Helix Ultra source their Group III primarily from Yubase). Formerly known as SK Lubricants, renamed SK Enmove in 2022.

ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Spring, Texas; NYSE: XOM; chemical segment ~$12B revenue) produces Vistalon EPDM at its Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Baytown, Texas complexes — two of the world's largest integrated petrochemical sites. Vistalon EPDM holds an estimated 12-15% global market share. ExxonMobil's ethylene and propylene feedstock integration at its Gulf Coast facilities provides a cost structure advantage for EPDM production. Vistalon is used in automotive seals, roofing membranes, wire insulation, and plumbing and water system gaskets. ExxonMobil also produces Butyl rubber (Butyl IIR) and other specialty elastomers from the same Gulf Coast facilities — the same sites producing vehicle fuel also produce the rubber seals used in plumbing systems.

US integrated oil major; major base oil producer. Chevron's Richmond CA and Pascagoula MS refineries produce Group II and Group III base oils under the Chevron Base Oil brand. Oronite additive division produces lubricant additives. Chevron also holds minority stake in Gulf Oil LP for base oil marketing. NYSE: CVX.

Major integrated oil company; operates Whiting IN (435,000 bpd, largest US Midwest refinery); significant fuel-grade petcoke producer from coking units processing heavy Canadian oil sands crude.

Finnish energy company; produces high-quality Group II and Group III base oils (Neste Base Oils brand) from North Sea crude at Porvoo refinery, Finland. Best known globally for renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Neste base oils are produced as part of the Porvoo refinery complex. Helsinki Stock Exchange listed.