I am pretty sure much of the previous "documented proof" that you speak of relates to Hydrolyte's application for O&G, of which there are plenty. One of the limiting factors has been production capacity.
What is different now is that Catholyte is being tested for EOR. And it is very possible (likely?) that Catholyte is being tested as a carrier fluid for Holcomb's newly patented Nissan Chemical product. This is all new, hence why it needs proper testing and a technical report. This is not confirmed, but it makes sense, for the following reasons-
1. Holcomb is one of the inventors of NanoActiv
2. It must be paired with a fluid or a gas depending of the EOR method being used.
3. Catholyte matches the characteristics on the fluid for the waterflood EOR method.
4. The 10k says
Dr. Holcomb guided the development of protocols for a three- to four-month in-field testing program of PCT Catholyte and other additives to enhance oil production in wells.
Logic says it is likely that he is testing Catholyte with Nanoactiv as the "other additive"
We will find out soon, but this is not a rehash or repackaging of past methods IMO.