(19)

(11)

EP 3 140 498 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 07.05.2015 (43) Date of publication: 15.03.2017 Bulletin 2017/11 (21) Application number: 14747203.9 (22) Date of filing: 08.07.2014

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  E21B 33/06(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2014/045818 (87) International publication number: WO 2015/003190 (08.01.2015 Gazette 2015/01)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 02.07.2013 US 201361842232 P 27.06.2014 US 201414318319 (71) Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Houston, Texas 77036 (US)

(72) Inventors: LANDRITH, James Ray Humble, TX 77346 (US) BROWN, Roger Dale Katy, TX 77494 (US) BUELOW, Jonathan Lewis Houston, TX 77094 (US) LIOTTA, Joseph James Conroe, TX 77385 (US) ENSLEY, Eric Trevor Cypress, TX 77433 (US) JOHNSON, Christopher Dale Cypress, TX 77429 (US) (74) Representative: Lucas, Brian Ronald  Lucas & Co. 135 Westhall Road Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9HJ Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9HJ (GB)