(19)

(11)

EP 1 438 477 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 21.07.2004 Bulletin 2004/30 (21) Application number: 02777601.2 (22) Date of filing: 10.10.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: E21B 4/14 (86) International application number: PCT/IB2002/004154 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/031761 (17.04.2003 Gazette 2003/16)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 10.10.2001 ZA 200108324 (71) Applicant: Taylor, Reginald Frederick 0181 Pretoria (ZA)	(72) Inventor: Taylor, Reginald Frederick 0181 Pretoria (ZA) (74) Representative: Piésold, Alexander J.  Frank B. Dehn & Co.,European Patent Attorneys,179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)