Abstract: An expandable tubing (12) for a well bore hole (14) in which selected length portions (24, 26, 28) are weakened by a slot configuration (FIGS. 2, 3, 4) to obtain predetermined expansion characteristics. The slot configurations are tailored or selected for a predetermined bore hole length and may be expanded to different radial diameters to conform generally to the peripheral contour of the bore hole. Tubing portions (29) between the slotted length potions (24, 26, 28) are unweakened.

Abstract: A spar platform is disclosed having a deck supported by a buoyant tank assembly having a first buoyant section connected to the deck and defining a central moonpool and a second buoyant section disposed beneath and axially vertically aligned with the first buoyant section. A buoyant section spacing structure connects the first and second buoyant sections in a manner providing a horizontally extending vertical gap therebetween and a counterweight spacing structure connects the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly. A flexjoint receptacle connected to the exterior base of the second buoyant section receives a receptacle connection on the exterior of the riser to support a catenary section of the riser between the receptacle connection and the seafloor. An exterior section of the riser mounts to the exterior of the second buoyant section and an ingress section passes through the horizontally extending vertical gap to the moonpool.

Abstract: Apparatus for locally disturbing an underwater bed to enable the burial of an elongate member (39) comprises a mounting (30,31), resilient means (88-93) such as brush filaments coupled to the mounting, and means (9) for moving the resilient means with respect to the mounting. The resilient means is constructed such that on moving the mounting along the line of the elongate member while moving the resilient means with respect to the mounting, the underwater bed is disturbed by the resilient means to enable the elongate member to be buried.

Abstract: An automatic flashboard (10) comprises a wall (12) installed on a hydraulic structure (11) so as to be capable of passing from an erect position in which it retains a mass of water to a lowered position in which it allows the water to pass substantially without obstruction, and at least one elongate retaining member (13) for holding the wall (12) in its erect position against horizontal thrust (P1) from the mass of water (25). The retaining element (13) extends between the wall (12) and a reaction point to which it is connected by a connection (15) that can be automatically eliminated when the water reaches a certain level. The flashboard (10) also includes a massive element (16) movably mounted on the structure (11) and coupled to the mass of water so as to be in a stable state so long as the water remains below a predetermined level (N) and to pass into an unstable state and to be moved when the water reaches the predetermined level (N), the connection (15) being eliminated by the massive element moving.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted for movement through a passage formed in the ground includes an elongate element and means for positioning a shroud around at least part of the elongate element for engagement against the periphery of the passage to provide a space through which the elongate element can move. The shroud is of flexible construction and is arranged to be progressively installed in position as the elongate element moves along the passage. The apparatus is adapted for introducing an inflation fluid into the region between the shroud and the elongate element in order to inflate the shroud and maintain it in engagement against the periphery of the passage.

Abstract: Heavy metal bearing materials during production, processing and/or handling, and/or in landfills, storage or retention areas are stabilized prior to the generation of management as a waste by applying heavy metal stabilizing agents into the product stream thus avoiding complex and costly processing, permitting and treatment of waste under hazardous waste regulations.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrifugally forming a subterranean, cylindrically shaped soil-cement casing in material located in a subterranean earth situs. A soil processing tool is advanced and rotated into the subterranean situs and as the tool advances a high velocity cement slurry is introduced through said tool to hydraulically divide the pieces of soil into particles and to mix the cement slurry with the particles to form a soil-cement slurry. As the soil processing tool is then withdrawn from the situs, the tool is rotated at a speed to exert a centrifugal force by the tool on the soil-cement slurry in excess of two G's, causing the solids of the soil-cement slurry to migrate away from the center of the hole to form a first cylindrical region at the edge of the hole and a second cylindrical region at the center of the hole. The first region has more of the dense solids and the second internal region has a greater proportion of free water and less of the dense solids.

Abstract: The present invention includes block molds and manufacturing processes as well as a composite masonry block comprising a block body having an irregular trapezoidal shape and comprising a front surface and a back surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, and first and second sidewalls. Both the first and second sidewalls have a first and second part, the sidewall first part extends from the block front surface towards the block back surface at an angle of no greater than ninety degrees in relationship to the block front surface, the sidewall second part surfaces adjoins and lies between the sidewall first parts and the block back surface. The block also has a flange extending from the block back surface past the height of the block. Also disclosed are landscaping structures such as a retaining wall comprising a plurality of the composite masonry blocks of the present invention.

Abstract: A system for removing contaminants from the phreatic zone, also known as the saturation zone, or groundwater. The technique preferably involves gas sparging while slowing down the sparging process by placing packing balls into the eductor tube. A preferred embodiment of the system is comprised of a means for supplying gas to the lower extent of a well which induces a flow of groundwater and gas bubbles up the well. The system may also contain a conduit within the well which extends below the water table The conduit has a lower fluid-permeable section which is located below the water table and an upper fluid-permeable section which is adjacent to the water table the system may further comprise an eductor tube contained in the conduit which extends from the top extent of the conduit to the saturation zone. Packing balls may be located between the eductor tube and the means for supplying gas to the lower extends of the well.

Abstract: A sheeting device includes a column with two supporting surfaces in one guide channel. The second supporting surface is provided with an offset relative to the first supporting surface. The offset is both toward the middle of the column in the lengthwise direction of the trench and also in the transverse direction toward the wall of the trench, with one edge of an outer plate of the sheeting device abutting this second supporting surface. As a result of the two supporting surfaces that are offset with respect to one another in the lengthwise and transverse directions of the trench, the guide channel offers each of the plates support in extension of the lengthwise extent of the respective plate. Two inwardly projecting supporting edges on the outer plates are dispensable. Eliminating these supporting edges has the additional advantage that the stacked volume of the outer plates is reduced by approximately half.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tank which is too large to be built on the ground. In the method, a floating station (1012) is built on the sea, surrounding a first spherical shell section (1002a) which constitutes one end of the tank. In the floating station, a hollow cylindrical section is built in a vertical position, connected to the first spherical shell section. The second spherical shell section (1002b) constituting the other end of the tank is connected to the open end of the hollow cylindrical section.

Abstract: An inflatable dike formed from sections includes an upper and lower partition. The lower partition includes a water inlet and is water-fillable via the water inlet to add weight to the dike. The upper partition attaches to partially surround to the lower partition. The upper partition includes an air inlet for inflating the upper partition with air. The upper partition inflates to add rigidity, and to laterally support the lower partition.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing fill material over a pipeline. A wide-track carriage is provided for straddling the pipeline trench, and this includes a shaker screen mechanism for screening aggregate fill material, such as excavated native spoils. The screened fill material is fed into the trench via a pivoting conveyor which is controlled by means of a pivotable and extensible boom. A mix auger is also provided for mixing water and cement with the fill material to form a cementitious Controlled Low Strength Material fill in those installations where this is needed.

Abstract: A dual phase riser flotation system contains a number of passive phase buoyancy modules of syntactic foam contained within an outer skin, and a number of active phase buoyancy modules which are similar to air canisters in that they may be inflated or deflated as required to provide levels of buoyancy. The passive phase buoyancy modules may contain tubes filled with air, a compressed gas such as nitrogen, or evacuated to provide additional buoyancy. Charge and discharge valves connect gas flow lines to a manifold system serving the active phase buoyancy modules.

Abstract: Porous calcined clay sports field conditioners exhibit excellent playability while also displaying excellent drainage, freedom from compaction, and moisture retention under hot, dry conditions. The conditioners are non-hydrating granulates of narrow particle size distribution and are preferably of a red to brown coloration.

Abstract: A liquid distribution system for distributing effluent from a source of waste water. This liquid distribution system is contained within a distribution box and includes liquid inlet piping and a series of liquid flow splitting elements arranged in parallel, perpendicular to the horizontal flow of effluent through the distribution box. In addition, an adjustment system is incorporated into the liquid distribution system for maintaining the level of the liquid distribution system in the ground.

Abstract: Acid gas is liquified by compression and cooling, mixed with water under pressure and flowed into a disposal well.

Abstract: A method of distributing the loads generated between a ship and a supporting dry dock which comprises a platform comprising a number of articulatedly joined sub platforms and connected for lifting/lowering by opposed pairs of hoist winches, comprises moving certain combinations of the sub platforms by activating appropriate hoist winches, so as to alter forces to portions of the ship's hull, which forces may be evenly distributed, or concentrated so as to change the shape of local portions of the ship, or bring into alignment hatches and their covers.

Abstract: The secondarily contained piping system having two spaced access chambers that are interconnected by a secondary containment pipe to provide a sealed arrangement for a flexible fluid supply pipe, the ends of which are disposed within the access chambers. The outer flexible pipe is sized to permit the insertion and/or removal of the primary flexible pipe during installation and testing of the same and after backfilling of the trench within which the pipe is disposed, the outer flexible tubing partially collapses to engage and prevent relative movement between the two pipes while providing a flow path thereinbetween.

Abstract: A method of assessing a ships weight so as to e.g. assist in its design and development, or to ascertain its actual center of gravity or its loaded state, comprises positioning the ship on a dry dock platform made up of a number of articulatedly joined sub platforms connected for lifting and lowerng by hoist winches. The hoist winches include signal devices which signal the load each is supporting, to a computer and visual display unit which displays the loads. The computer computes e.g. the center of gravity or the ships weight, in the displacement of the center of gravity from its designed position, the information then being passed to the designer.