Abstract: An artificial ice structure for use as, for example, a base for oilfield operations or a road, is constructed in an offshore frigid environment where the water is covered by a sheet of floating ice. A berm or dike enclosing a predetermined area is built on the ice sheet to contain flood water and a trench is cut through the ice sheet around the perimeter of the dike to separate the predetermined area from the parent ice sheet and thereby form an island. The island of predetermined area is flooded with water and the water is allowed to freeze and weight the island down until essentially the entire ice mass of the island is resting on the ground underlying the body of water. After the structure is grounded, flooding with water is continued until the island has sufficient mass, in combination with other defensive measures, to resist the forces imposed by movement of the surrounding fast ice.

Abstract: A method of constructing an impermeable wall in the ground having no joints is disclosed. The method overcomes the problems of forming an impermeable joint between a series of individually dug slots. The improvement includes excavating at least one portion of trench in the ground at a width and depth required for the wall, replacing excavated material from the trench with bentonite-water slurry, and after completing the excavation, replacing a predetermined amount of the bentonite-water slurry with cement. The cement is mixed with the remaining bentonite-water slurry in the one portion of trench to produce an evenly mixed cement-bentonite-water slurry. After this slurry has gelled, the above steps are repeated on adjacent portions of trench, and the completed trench then allowed to harden and form a single impermeable wall.

Abstract: A means of anchoring a lining of low flexural rigidity with grout into a borehole drilled in the earth, which comprises a relatively thin-walled cylinder which may be composed of steel, elastomeric or plastic material of selected diameter, which is less than that of the borehole. A plurality of keys, each having one end bonded to the wall of the cylinder, extend outwardly, and have an enlarged head portion which is adapted to be bonded to the grout, which will fill the annular space between the cylinder and the borehole. A plurality of vertically spaced support rings surround the cylinder and are attached to the cylinder by means of a plurality of keys. The support rings are supported and spaced apart by means of circumferentially spaced rods, which are attached at their ends to the support rings and are guided at intermediate positions by keys which are locked to the cylinder.

Abstract: Oil and gas extraction from deep water sites. Various structures and equipment are described, including vessels for oil/gas storage beneath the surface and/or conduction to the surface, concrete being extensively used in the construction of the structures. A joint is described that articulately connects a structure to the sea bed or to another structure.

Abstract: A subfloor comprising leg-supported modules and drop in panels adapted to be installed in and around a grid of Christmas trees in the well bay area of a production platform.

Abstract: A device for protecting off-shore structures stretched between two floating towers of the "Froude pole" type against the effects of ocean swell, comprising at least four floating poles, two vertical arrays of horizontal cables, and a deflection panel assembly attached to one of the vertical arrays of horizontal cables. The floating poles comprise a rigid metal structure between two metal cylinders of the same diameter. The vertical arrays of horizontal cables form opposed catenary curves and are braced by further horizontal cables extending between them.

Abstract: A dock constructed of a pair of trusses each of which includes two spaced apart channel members having tubular bridging material therebetween. Cross members adjacent the ends of the trusses join the channel member in spaced apart relationship so that decking material can be supported by the trusses. The channel members used are of the type having a longitudinally extending restricted opening in one side. These slots facilitate bolting bridging and cross members to the channel members. The dock is supported by upright channel members located adjacent each corner. These upright members are adjustably secured by angle brackets bolted in the restricted openings therein and to the trusses so that the height of the dock can be adjusted.

Abstract: A breakwater, or similar structure, comprising a core of rubble, and an armouring layer overlying said core, said armouring layer being composed of individual armour units of hexagonal outer cross-section arranged in a honeycomb array, each of said armour units having an elongated, concrete body with longitudinal through water-passage means so that the porosity of the exposed face of the armouring layer is solely determined by the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said water passage means to the cross-sectional area of the concrete body.

Abstract: A work holder used for guiding a workpiece moved from one position to another during placement of the same and particularly sheet piling. The holder has an elongate rigid arm with an abutment at one end thereof for bearing against a rigid structure and a friction reducing unit at the other end of the arm for bearing against the workpiece during movement of the same. Between the abutment and the friction reducing unit there is a device for applying pressure to the arm to press the friction reducing unit against the workpiece. The pressure applying device has a first unit adapted to be detachably anchored to the rigid structure and a second unit, variable in length, connecting the first unit to the arm.

Abstract: In the automatic positioning of one submerged unit relative to another submerged unit without the use of guide lines, guiding structures associated with the units are brought into contact and the units are relatively orientated before the units are brought into contact.

Abstract: A novel casing torque hanger means for supporting the upper end of a string of casing from the upper end of a riser pipe which is supported by a floating vessel such as a Vertically Moored Platform. It includes a cylindrical member having a torque resistant spool below a casing hanger bowl. The casing string to be supported is provided with a casinghead mandrel at its upper end for engaging said torque resistant spool.

Abstract: The invention relates to contact shoes secured to ballast weight surfaces adjoining a pipeline, with at least two of said shoes being mounted below the pipeline longitudinal axis. The ballast weights are interconnected above the pipeline by means of an articulated joint and securing means, the latter being mounted above the articulated joint and comprising a resilient distance piece.

Abstract: A method for storing fluid underground at maximum pressure p, comprising the steps of digging, at a depth at which the lithostatic pressure generated by the weight of the abovejacent soil formations is at least p, an underground cavity in which is made a tight deformable casing anchored to the cavity wall at some places only, while it can freely expand or contract in every direction between said anchoring places, then of injecting pressured fluid into said casing in order that the latter be fully applied against the cavity wall, the possible movements of which said casing subsequently follows by gliding, the pressure of said fluid being, at every moment, counterbalanced by the lithostatic pressure of the cavity walls transmitted to said fluid by the thus expanded casing.

Abstract: When securing a rock bolt in a drilled hole in the rock the bolt having a conical end, is inserted to the desired depth in the hole. A gun, charged with a sleeve, is applied on the outer end of the rock bolt, and the bolt is centered in the gun barrel. The sleeve is shot into the hole at a high speed to be wedged in the gap between the conical end of the bolt and the wall of the hole.

Abstract: A method of constructing a hollow column for resting on a base on a submarine bed, comprises the steps of simultaneously starting the construction of a number of elements that are to form the column, causing the partly constructed elements to float, finishing the construction of the elements afloat, bringing the elements into the horizontal position and connecting them together to form the column, said elements being provided with impervious closures at each end thereof and an impervious caisson adjacent each end thereof, and those of the closures and caissons not required when the column is placed in position are dismantled.

Abstract: This invention comprises a technique for constructing concrete foundation columns in underwater locations, wherein the steel casing members used to form the columns may be recovered for subsequent re-use. In the technique, an inner and outer casing are partially imbedded in the ground submerged in the water and in concentric relationship with one another. The annulus formed between said inner and outer casing is filled with unconsolidated sand, while the inner casing is filled with reinforcing material and concrete to form the column. The inner casing is then vibrated at a suitable frequency to reduce the friction between it and the sand and concrete, whereby the inner casing may then be drawn upwardly and from between said concrete and the sand. The sand will then support the concrete until after said concrete has hardened, whereupon the outer casing may then be removed, either by vibration or by conventional techniques.

Abstract: An offshore pipe laying system and method employs a remotely controllable submersible to track along the pipe line as laid on the sea bed. A sonic location device on the submersible enables the position of the touch down point of the pipe being laid to be determined. The deviation of this position from the intended track of the pipeline is computed and the pipe laying vessel is controlled to reduce this deviation.

Abstract: In an H-shaped steel sheet pile wherein central parts of both side plates are coupled by a coupling plate, an engaging piece is formed at one edge of the side plate and a fitting piece adapted to snugly fit the engaging piece is formed at the other edge in such a manner that they are continuous along the respective edges, and fitting grooves are formed on both surfaces of the coupling plate in a manner to extend in opposition to each other in the lengthwise direction of the coupling plate, to form an H-shaped steel sheet pile (hereinbelow, termed an "AH-shaped steel sheet pile"). Apertures are opposingly provided at required positions of both the side plates of the AH-shaped steel sheet pile, to form an H-shaped steel sheet pile (hereinafter, called a "BH-shaped steel sheet pile").

Abstract: This invention relates to system for and method of moving sea water by utilizing tidal flow and ebb. This is achieved by the provision of at least one reservoir in the vicinity of the seashore and at least one tidewater channel connecting the reservoir and the seashore and also the provision of a plurality of floodgates on both reservoir and tidewater channel, the floodgates being adapted to be opened and shut in accordance with the tides of the sea for producing uni-directional current of tidewater through the tidewater channel.

Abstract: A method for joining two or more jacket or substructure components of an offshore platform in the water to form a single jacket unit. An offshore platform is located in deep water by dividing a jacket or support of extensive length therefor into at least two sections which have only sufficient buoyancy to float at water surface when the sections are launched from at least a vessel at a selected location. The sections are aligned and connected together. Guide means ensure proper alignment of the legs of the sections. Access tubes from the surface of the water to the hollow legs permit direct internal welding in securing the legs of the sections together. The sections are then sunk at the selected location until the jacket is in an upright position at which point it is anchored by driving piling through the jacket's hollow legs into the sea floor, following which the deck of the platform is placed or stabbed on the anchored jacket.