Epi-V initially invested £3 million in Brinker in 2007 in order to support the commercialisation of a unique technology for re-establishing integrity in ageing oilfield assets and to market this innovative solution to a global market.
We've worked closely with management to strengthen the core team, develop operational capacity and reach, and create a strong product proposition in the critical area of well integrity — a strategy which has seen the business grow its operations in the North Sea and Middle East to date.
The Brinker solution can get shut-in wells back on line in hours rather than months
Background
With ever-growing demands on workover infrastructure, limited availability of machinery and downtime becoming increasingly expensive, oil operators are looking for solutions which enable them to get their shut-in wells back on line and those wells operating with dispensation back to full production.
Brinker can provide that solution is easy to mobilise in a day and deploy in hours rather than typically waiting months for a workover.
Brinker Technology was spun out of the University of Aberdeen in 2002 and was established to commercialise the unique and patented Platelet Technology® — discrete particles which utilise the flow and pressure in a fluid system to remotely locate and seal leaks.
The patented Platelets® are injected into wellheads or pumped through the well head and down the well in a carrier gel. When they reach a leak, the pressure differential entrains them into it, creating a robust well barrier.
Our investment
After proving the concept in the field and carrying out a number of high profile operations in the North Sea, founding members of the management team decided that the company required an experienced funding partner that could offer the different strategic perspective and investment needed to realise its potential in the global industry.
After establishing a relationship with Epi-V, management were drawn to our active, consultative approach and realised our market knowledge, experience and contacts would provide exactly the springboard they would need to fast-track the commercialisation of the technology on an international stage.
The strategy
The initial focus for management and Epi-V was to design the optimal market positioning and invest in the business' operational capacity (facilities, personnel, sales and front-end engineering) to meet increasing demand from existing markets and support rapid expansion into new geographical areas.
Our team also devised and implemented a strategy to give the organisation the customer-focused, commercial orientation required to successfully position and promote the business as a knowledge-led service provider in the area of well integrity.
At the same time as tackling the international upstream market, we also invested further in the research and development required to extend the use of the Platelet Technology® to other critical applications such as water distribution in the utilities market.
Outcomes
With Asset Integrity as one of the industry's hottest topics, Brinker is set to benefit from this with its unique and disruptive Platelet Technology® offering, providing clients with the ability to unlock the trapped production in their fields. In the time it would take to plan one rig workover, Brinker can address integrity issues in over 100 wells.
"Brinker provide a unique solution to one of our industry's most significant problems and unlock the potential of wells shut-in due to integrity issues.
"Epi-V have been with us all the way on our journey, supporting and encouraging us, working with us to fast-track the adoption of our leak sealing solutions in the international market place.
"The individuals that make up EPi-V all have "been there, done that" in growing businesses successfully and understand the challenges of bringing disruptive technology to the industry. They have a strong mix of technical knowledge, industrial experience, and commercial nous, all of which has provide valuable to us on this journey."
