What Virtual Materials Group does

Virtual Materials Group (VMG) is a Calgary-based, private process simulation software company founded in 2013, operating with 11-50 employees in the oil and gas energy sector. Its core technology is the Symmetry process simulation platform, which is powered by a thermodynamic engine with nearly 20 years of validation history and a built-in database of more than 20,000 chemicals, 80 thermodynamic property packages, and hundreds of unit operations. Symmetry uses a proprietary PIONA-based fluid characterization approach to enable accurate physical property estimation for blending, separation, and reactive hydrocarbon systems, including the modeling of hydrate, wax, and asphaltene formation. The platform integrates steady-state and transient dynamic analyses across upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas operations, and has been extended into new-energy applications including geothermal, hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy storage.

The product is modularized into Symmetry Process (core simulation), Symmetry Pipe (pipeline networks), Symmetry Field (reservoir and multi-phase gathering), Symmetry Flare (flare and relief system design), Symmetry Dynamics (dynamic/transient analysis), and Symmetry Thermo (the thermodynamic engine). VMG's technology is now distributed through SLB's enterprise sales channel and the Delfi digital platform ecosystem, with a Digital Software Store providing a self-serve procurement option. The suite supports interoperability via COM, OPC, CAPE-OPEN, and custom interfaces, and the February 2026 release (Symmetry 2026.2) integrated SLB's Tela agentic-AI assistant for natural language configuration, automated case study creation, and multi-step simulation workflows, alongside a Physics-Informed AI hybrid modeling capability.

VMG's revenue model is enterprise B2B software licensing, with pricing not publicly disclosed and contracts executed through direct enterprise sales. Customer segments are horizontal across the oil and gas value chain — upstream operators, midstream processors, downstream refiners and petrochemical producers, and new-energy developers — with all four segments served from a single integrated platform rather than separate vertical SKUs. Pricing follows an opaque, contact-sales motion consistent with high-ACV enterprise agreements.

Name

Virtual Materials Group

Legal name

SLB

Website

https://virtualmaterials.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Virtual Materials Group is a Calgary-based process simulation software company whose Symmetry platform delivers thermodynamic and dynamic modeling for upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas operators. Now distributed through SLB, the suite targets enterprise engineering teams with integrated AI-augmented simulation and new-energy capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Virtual Materials Group develops and sells the Symmetry process simulation software suite for the oil and gas industry, providing steady-state and dynamic simulation of upstream, midstream, downstream, and new energy processes. The suite includes modules for process, pipeline/flow assurance, field operations, flare system design, dynamics, and thermodynamic calculations, and is enhanced with the Tela AI Assistant and Physics-Informed AI capabilities. Software is delivered through an online Software Store with a centralized Support Portal for ongoing customer service.

Product overview

Symmetry is a comprehensive, unified process simulation software platform for the oil and gas industry, offered as one of SLB's Transition Technologies. The platform integrates multiple specialized modules: Symmetry Process (core process simulation), Symmetry Pipe (pipeline networks), Symmetry Field (reservoir/gathering systems), Symmetry Flare (safety systems), Symmetry Dynamics (transient/dynamic analysis), and Symmetry Thermo (thermodynamics engine with 80+ property packages). The platform leverages the Delfi digital platform and Tela AI assistant for advanced AI capabilities. Symmetry supports the full life cycle from conceptualization through operations across upstream, midstream, downstream, and new energy sectors including geothermal, hydrogen, and carbon capture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Symmetry: Comprehensive process simulation software for the oil and gas industry that models process workflows integrating facilities, process units with pipelines, networks and flare/safety systems models.
• Symmetry Process
• Symmetry Pipe
• Symmetry Flare
• Symmetry Field
• Symmetry Dynamics
• Symmetry Thermo
• Delfi
• Tela

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Subsea Services AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA strategic alliance focused on subsea intervention and workover services. Provides life of field intervention services and modular injection systems for subsea operations.
• Digital Platform Partners (on Delfi)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital platform partner program integrated into the Delfi ecosystem, providing the fastest path to global energy customers through the Delfi digital platform.
• Alliance PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partners across the energy industry for integrated solutions and collaborative development.
• Embedded Partners and SupplierssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmbedded partners and suppliers integrated into SLB's supply chain and product delivery ecosystem.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Process Systems Enterprise (PSE): PSE's gPROMS-family technologies and Modelica-based digital twin offerings overlap with Symmetry's dynamic and new-energy simulation capabilities, particularly in energy transition and specialty chemical applications.

Direct peers

• KBC (Yokogawa): KBC's Petro-SIM and related process simulation tools are a direct competitor to Symmetry in refining and petrochemical process optimization, now part of Yokogawa.
• AVEVA: AVEVA acquired PRO/II, SIM4ME, and other process simulation assets and competes with Symmetry in steady-state and dynamic process modeling for hydrocarbons, chemicals, and refining.
• Petex (Petroleum Experts): Petroleum Experts' IPM suite (MBAL, PROSPER, GAP) provides integrated production modeling and flow assurance tools that compete with Symmetry Field and Symmetry Pipe for upstream network modeling.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software (gPROMS): Siemens gPROMS is a leading equation-oriented process modeling platform with advanced optimization capabilities, directly competing with Symmetry for advanced process and dynamic simulation use cases in energy and chemicals.
• Honeywell Process Solutions (UniSim): Honeywell's UniSim Design suite competes directly with Symmetry Process and Symmetry Dynamics for process and dynamic simulation in oil & gas, refining, and petrochemicals.
• Aspen Technology: AspenTech is the leading pure-play process simulation vendor (Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, Aspen DMC3) and is the most direct competitor to Symmetry across upstream, midstream, and downstream process modeling, including steady-state and dynamic simulation.

Regional players

• Computer Modelling Group (CMG): Calgary-based CMG provides reservoir simulation software (STARS, GEM, IMEX) and is comparable to the Symmetry Field reservoir/gathering-system component, serving a largely North American upstream customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Schlumberger / SLB: SLB appears as the apparent owner/distributor of the Symmetry platform per the source data and offers adjacent simulators (OLGA, Eclipse, Petrel) across upstream, midstream, and downstream — making it both a likely acquirer and a broad incumbent in the same workflow.
• ANSYS: ANSYS provides multiphysics and CFD simulation (Fluent, CFX) that competes with Symmetry on detailed fluid-flow and reaction modeling, particularly in flare, relief, and combustion-related workflows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slb
• Facebookfacebook.com/SLB
• Xx.com/vmginc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtual Materials Group