Abstract: A pile system for support structures includes at least two piles each having a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical elongate body. Each cylindrical elongate body has an inner surface and an outer surface, extends from the first end toward the second end, and defines an internal cavity with a longitudinal axis. Each pile further includes a transition region between the elongate body and the second end, the transition region including an annular seating shoulder disposed on the inner surface of the cylindrical elongate body that defines a step increase from a primary inner diameter to a secondary inner diameter. The first end of a first pile of the at least two piles is configured to be inserted into the second end of a second pile until a first distal edge thereof contacts the seating shoulder of the second pile.

Abstract: A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable.

Abstract: A method of aligning first and second pipes end-to-end in a position ready for welding. Each pipe has an end bevelled with a shape scanned and stored in memory of a control unit. At least one of the pipes has machine readable codes distributed around their circumference of the pipe. The method includes effecting relative movement of the ends of the first and second pipes towards each other, reading at least one of the codes with a reader, and ascertaining the relative movement required to align the pipes in accordance with a target orientation. The relative movement is ascertained with information provided by the read code and the shapes of the bevelled ends stored in the control unit memory. In other aspects, a closed loop control method and machine-learning may be used to align the pipes. A pipe-laying vessel including pipe handling equipment and the control unit is also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid offshore wind turbine includes a monopile, friction wheel, and suction bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing multiple strands of hose below a surface of terrain is provided. The apparatus comprises a chassis and rotating trenching blade assemblies connected to the chassis. The trenching blade assemblies are configured to dig parallel trenches when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain. Curved hose guides are connected to the chassis in trailing positions behind the trenching blades. Each hose guide receives hose from a hose reel on reel mounts connected to the chassis and deposits the hose into a trench dug by a trenching blade assembly. Trench fillers connected to the chassis trail the hose guides. Each trench filler is aligned with a respective hose guide and comprises a number of blades configured to push soil excavated from a trench back into the trench when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain.

Abstract: A shoring device for corners is shown and described. One of the models for the corner shoring device includes a first sidewall connected to a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form an angled connection. A support wall is connected to each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall within the angle to prevent the sidewalls form closing in on each other.

Abstract: Foundation systems and methods using in-situ shaped pile-anchors that are particularly adapted for use in aquatic environments. The shaped pile-anchor of the invented foundation includes a concrete filled tubular metal casing, the bottom end of which is positioned at a predetermined depth in the ground (e.g., aquatic-floor soil) and the top end of which protrudes above the water or soil surface. Concrete fills the inside the metal casing, substantially all the way to the top end of the casing, forming an upper portion of a concrete column. The lower portion of the concrete column extends down below the bottom end of the metal casing and further into the ground. The lower portion is shaped to have a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the upper portion, which equals to the inner diameter of the tubular metal casing. A platform is coupled to one of more of the shaped pile-anchors to support a structure above.

Abstract: An electrically grounded and corrosion-protected assembly includes a metallic structure. At least a portion of the metallic structure is buried in the earth. A water impermeable and electrically conductive cementitious surround is applied to at least a section of the portion that is buried in the earth. The surround is in direct contact with the section and is between the section and the earth.

Abstract: A monolayer multi-axial integral geogrid suitable for stabilizing aggregate includes a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings therein. Oriented ribs extending inwardly from each of said outer hexagons support and surround a smaller inner hexagon having oriented strands thus forming a plurality of trapezoidal openings and a single hexagonal opening. The oriented strands and partially oriented junctions of the outer hexagons form a plurality of linear strong axis strands that extend continuously throughout the entirety of the geogrid and form additional triangular openings. The geogrid thus includes three different repeating geometric shapes. The inner hexagons preferably also can move up and down, out of the plane of the geogrid. The multi-axial integral geogrid thus provides a geometry configured to engage with, confine and stabilize a large variety and quality of aggregates.

Abstract: A template for installing piles underwater includes a template frame and pile guides having parallel pile guide centerlines and being fixed to the template frame. Each pile guide has a pile guide frame that surrounds a passageway configured for passing a pile therethrough. Each pile guide frame includes upper and lower ends. Each pile guide includes a spacer fixed to the pile guide frame and protruding into the passageway. The spacer has a pile contact surface for guiding a pile. The pile contact surface encloses an imaginary cylinder including a centerline which coincides with the pile guide centerline. In a circumferential direction about the pile guide centerline, the location of the pile contact surface shifts with respect to the corresponding pile guide frame in a direction from the lower end to the upper end thereof as seen in a direction from the template center to the pile guide centerline.

Abstract: A shipyard including a shiplift platform that is capable of being raised above yard level for maintenance is provided. Hoists are coupled with the shiplift platform, and jacks are coupled with the hoists. The jacks are capable of lifting the hoists relative to the yard, and are capable of lifting the shiplift platform above the yard level.

Abstract: The disclosed water barrier systems may include a first mobile water barrier, and adjacent second mobile water barrier, and a translation mechanism for translating the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier toward each other. Lowering mechanisms may be configured to lower sidewalls of the mobile water barriers. The mobile water barriers may include sealing elements to form water seals between the adjacent mobile water barriers and between the sidewalls and a surface. Related methods of forming a water barrier assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchor device for a prestressed diaphragm wall, comprising at least one prestressing reinforcement and a sleeve encasing said at least one prestressing reinforcement and forming an anchorage for said at least one prestressing reinforcement in the diaphragm wall, a length (Ld) of the anchor sleeve being strictly less than a length (La) of said at least one prestressing reinforcement, the anchor sleeve comprising a sealing material disposed in such a way as to coat each prestressing reinforcement, the anchor device comprising a corrosion-resistant coating of each prestressing reinforcement.

Abstract: A ground improvement apparatus includes: an irrotational sun gear fixed to an irrotational inner pipe inside a rotatable outer pipe; a planetary gear rotatably supported on a rotatable agitation shaft and configured to rotate while meshing with the sun gear; and an inverse rotation mechanism meshing with the planetary gear and rotating the agitation shaft in an opposite direction of the planetary gear. The agitation shaft is suspended on a connection member attached to the outer pipe so as to rotate in synchronization with a rotation center of the inverse rotation mechanism. A ground where the outer pipe is penetrated and a solidifying material discharged from the agitation shaft are agitated and mixed with each other by agitation blades radially attached to the agitation shaft with a trajectory of distal ends of the agitation blades drawing a substantially polygonal shape by rotation of the agitation shaft.

Abstract: Packer setting device, comprising a tubular (10) with a plug housing (14), said plug housing having an internal, through running boring (12) with an internal wall (12a), a breakable plug (16) seated in a load ring (22) axially movable within the boring (12) between a first position in where the plug (16) is with a distance to a breaking pin (18) and a second position in where the plug (16) is forced against the breaking pin (18), said load ring (22) is resting on a shear ring (20) with an annular shear lip (20a) to prevent axial movement in the first position until the shear lip (20a) is subjected to a force higher than a predetermined force, wherein the annular shear lip (20a) of the shear ring (20) extend radially inward in the boring (12), and the breaking pin (18) is resting on the shear ring (20), and said breaking pin (18) is accommodated in a pocket (28) on an outside of the load ring (22).

Abstract: A method includes mounting a first jacket connector block (400) to an apparatus. The first jacket connector block includes a first frame (415), a plurality of first conductor tubes (405) connected to the first frame, a first plurality of releasable connectors (420) coupled to first ends of the first conductor tubes, and a second plurality of releasable connectors (420) coupled to second ends of the first conductor tubes and engaging the apparatus.

Abstract: A pipeline protection and leveling device for an underground pipeline. The device includes a permeable housing structure having a left side, a right side, a bottom and an open top. An excavator hook lift strap, an upright lift strap, and at least one side lift strap each extend from the permeable housing structure. A top opening closure mechanism is configured to close the open top.

Abstract: A transportable wave suppressor and sediment collection system for suppressing wave action along the shore of a body of water, which includes a plurality of interconnected sections, each section including a base, a forward wall, and a rear wall, and having a plurality of flow pipes extending from the forward wall to the rear wall, and further including a plurality of shelves on the forward wall for dispersing wave energy, while redirecting and using the wave energy to allow water and sediment to flow into the flow pipes and for collecting sediment that is not carried into the flow pipes and settles on the shelves for being contacted by a following wave to carry the sediment into the flow pipes. In some deeper water embodiments, the sections may include a base portion, a top portion and one or more spacer portions to enable raising or changing the height of the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to oil and gas exploration and comprises a direct connection system referred to as a Lower Riser Termination Assembly (LRTA), between risers made of composite material and horizontal lines installed on the seabed (flowlines). The system is applicable to a hybrid riser and its construction method allows cost reduction and system assembly/installation time optimization. The LRTA connection system is applicable to both rigid and flexible flowlines without need for any intermediate connection section/equipment between these and the risers. The construction of the system allows free vertical expansion of the risers along the entire structure. In addition, in the construction method developed for this system, the required area is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Marine habitation units are disclosed for use in the open sea. Each unit includes a habitable chamber; a column including a first end, and a second end, opposite the first end, the second end for mounting in a sea bed; and, and, a segment in communication with the habitable chamber, and the first end of the column. The segment is moveable both substantially vertically, and, rotatably, allowing the wherein the habitable chamber and the column to move substantially vertically, and, rotatably, with respect to each other.