BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina 's Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a freeze that had been placed on Chevron Corp assets in the country, clearing the way for the U.S. oil giant to go ahead with a shale oil venture with Argentina's YPF .
Chevron has signed an agreement with YPF to invest up to $1.5 billion in the Vaca Muerta shale megafield, located in Argentina's southern region of Patagonia.
Late last year an Argentinean judge ordered a freeze on up to $19 billion worth of assets held by Chevron in Argentina as part of an environmental lawsuit by Ecuadorean villagers who say the company is responsible for contamination.
That roadblock to the Chevron/Vaca Muerta deal was lifted on Tuesday.
"The high court overturned the freeze," Argentina's Judicial Information Center, ICJ, said in a statement.
Chevron was not immediately available for comment.
The company, which denies the environmental charges and