Stirling pump technology outfit WaveLIFT lands £1m backing

A pump technology firm has secured more than £1 million of funding to develop a system aimed at helping oil and gas firms maximise returns.

WaveLIFT chief Steve Bruce. Picture: Contributed

Stirling-based WaveLIFT has raised the funding in a round led by business angel investment syndicate, Archangels, with co-investment from Scottish Enterprise and a private investor.

• READ MORE: Oil & Gas Technology Centre pumps £1.6m into projects

WaveLIFT, founded in 2016, has developed innovative artificial lift pump technology to help the offshore sector increase the flow of crude oil, water or gas from a production well.

Steve Bruce, a former chief executive of Darcy and Schlumberger who heads the firm along with Simon Munro, who used to work with the Business Growth Fund, said: “The need for exploiting the world’s remaining oil reserves has never been greater.

“With increased exploration costs and reduced profit margins forcing operators to maximise returns from existing portfolios, we are positioned to take advantage through our innovative artificial lift products. Having this funding support will allow us to continue to grow and commercialise our business.”

200 Voices: find out more about the people who have shaped Scotland

Niki McKenzie, investment director at Archangels, said: “WaveLIFT’s product is innovative and unique and it has gained positive feedback from some major players in the sector.”

Archangels now has more than 80 investor members and leads investment of around £15m per year in early stage Scottish companies, including backing from partners, the largest being the Scottish Investment Bank.

• Well-Safe Solutions, launched in July as an entrant to the energy decommissioning market, has signed a five-year lease for 4,400 square feet at Hill of Rubislaw in Aberdeen and moves in this week.

The company also unveiled the appointment of Jim Christie, former head of decommissioning for the Oil and Gas Authority, as its director of programmes.

• READ MORE: Martyn McLaughlin: Should disused oil rigs be left where they are?

Well-Safe Solutions, which has 20 staff, said the new building space will be able to house 60 employees, and that the group aims to be a “major tier 1 well abandonment service company”.

Speaking yesterday on the eve of Offshore Europe, the Aberdeen energy conference, founder and executive director Mark Patterson, said: “Jim’s appointment is highly significant and a boost in our ambition to become a leader in plug and abandonment in the sector.”

Click here to ‘Like’ The Scotsman Business on Facebook