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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for installing pipe underground are disclosed. The system includes a pneumatic rammer configured to provide a percussive force to a section of pipe. The system also includes a main jacking frame coupled to the pneumatic rammer, the main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe. The system also includes one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a hydraulic force to the section of pipe. The system also includes a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide in a longitudinal direction. An independently displaceable soil-clearing system can be included to clear dirt coming inside the pipe during the installation and add extra jacking force as needed.

Abstract: An assembly for installing an object under water at a desired location, including a vessel arranged to carry the object; a submersible frame; and a connection between the object and the submersible frame. In use the vessel is spatially separated from the submersible frame along the direction of the water surface. The object, the connection and the submersible frame are arranged such that, when releasing the object from the vessel, the object becomes submerged and carries out a pendulum motion until the object is suspended from the submersible frame.

Abstract: There is provided a method of interconnecting a conduit and a plurality of subsea structures. The method comprises providing a first manifold header in-line of the conduit, where the first manifold header has at least one valve installed therein, A portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed such that the first manifold header is engaged with a first subsea structure, and a further portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed. A second manifold header, having at least one valve installed therein, is provided in-line of the conduit and engaged with a second subsea structure. The length of conduit provided on the sea bed between the first subsea structure and the second subsea structure is significantly greater than the distance between the first and second subsea structures.

Abstract: The present invention is an underground gas line protective barrier to help prevent damage by common excavation. The core components of the invention include a protective barrier, warning text on the protective barrier, and a locatable wire, which is commonly referred to as a tracer wire, which, generally speaking, are configured as follows: a woven protection barrier with warning text and a locatable wire positioned beside the barrier but attached to the protective barrier. The protective barrier is placed directly on the underground line with the tracer wire to the side of the protective barrier. With respect to the associated method, in order to carry out the method the following core steps are followed: unroll the product directly over the gas line, apply dirt on the product as needed to hold it in place, and continue with normal backfill procedure to cover the device.

Abstract: A pipe loading system for a drilling machine includes a stem and a first receptacle adapted to removably receive a first end of a first pipe. The pipe loading system includes a guide ring removably disposed on the first receptacle and adapted to removably receive a first end of a second pipe. The pipe loading system also includes a second receptacle defining a first receiving portion and adapted to removably receive a second end of the first pipe. The pipe loading system further includes a liner assembly removably disposed on the second receptacle and defining a second receiving portion. The second receiving portion is adapted to removably receive a second end of the second pipe. A diameter of the second pipe is smaller than a diameter of the first pipe.

Abstract: A culvert system includes a flexible toe wall that connects to and extends down from the bottom of the culvert. The flexible toe wall is capable of readily conforming to various shapes of the trench conditions provided to receive the toe wall, before or as the trench is backfilled.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing oil or other pollutants from the surface of water, comprising a platform having a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, a front opening, a floor, and a bottom, one or more ballasts which adjust the platform floor relative to a level of oil on the water surface, wherein the oil flows from the front opening across the floor to the rear wall, a rear location near the rear wall to collect the oil from the platform floor; and a pump connected to the rear location that removes the oil from the rear location to a storage area which does not affect the ballast of the platform. The skimmer vessel can work stationary in the water, and does not require a propeller means, as the oil will continue to flow into the skimmer as the oil is pumped out of the rear by the gravity flow to the rear of the vessel.

Abstract: A suction bucket for a seabed foundation for an offshore facility is provided. The suction bucket is arranged for being embedded into a marine sediment. The suction bucket includes a lid and a sidewall. The sidewall is segmented into a first circumferential segment and at least a second circumferential segment. The first circumferential segment is connected with the second circumferential segment. The first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment are attached to the lid of the suction bucket. Furthermore, the first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment each contains at least one substantially planar section. Furthermore, a method to manufacture a suction bucket for a seabed foundation for an offshore facility is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes mounting a lower platform block (300) to a plurality of piles (215) positioned on a surface. The lower platform block includes a first frame (315), a plurality of docking assemblies (305) connected to the first frame and engaging the piles, and a plurality of conductor tubes (310) connected to the first frame to a plurality of piles. The docking assemblies are released from the piles to separate the lower platform block from the piles.

Abstract: A water wave breaker includes an attachment portion and a curved concave portion. The curved concave portion is connected with the attachment portion. When the attachment portion is attached to a substantially vertically extending surface a first end of the curved concave portion, which is disposed laterally farther away from the attachment portion than a second end of the curved concave portion, is disposed above the second end of the curved concave portion with the curved concave portion oriented in a downward direction away from the substantially vertically extending surface.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing and/or operating a pipe deployment system including pipe deployment equipment, in which a pipe drum having spooled thereon a pipe segment is to be loaded on the pipe deployment equipment, and a pulling device to be secured to an unspooled section of the pipe segment to enable pulling force to be exerted thereon. The pulling device includes a first device leg, a second device leg parallel to the first device leg, and a device base extending between and secured the first device leg and the second device leg such that the device base is perpendicular to the first device leg and the second device leg and the device base is raised relative to a bottom surface of the first device leg and a bottom surface of the second device leg, in which the unspooled section of the pipe segment is to be disposed on the device base.

Abstract: A system for holding a tubular sleeve (2) in a receiving structure during setting of a cement or other binder introduced in a fluid state between the sleeve (2) and the receiving structure, comprising:—at least one expandable structure (4) mounted on the sleeve (2), deformable from an inactive configuration allowing insertion of the sleeve (2) in the receiving structure to an active configuration immobilizing the sleeve (2) in the receiving structure,—at least one corresponding tool to be inserted in the sleeve (2), configured for acting on the expandable structure (4) to cause it to pass from the inactive configuration to the active configuration.

Abstract: A rock bolt (10) to be received in a drilled hole comprising a threaded shaft (12) and a sleeve (14) into which the shaft (12) is received. A plurality of openings (38) are provided along the length of the sleeve (14) and clamping assemblies (16) each having clamp members (36) are provided adjacent each opening (38). Wedge members (26) are located adjacent each of the clamp members (36) and the wedge members (26) each include a threaded bore for receiving the shaft (12) such that rotation of the shaft (12) moves the wedge members (26) into engagement with the clamp members (36) to move the clamp members (36) outwardly through the openings (38) to engage with an inner surface of the hole.

Abstract: A portion of a line from a line laying vessel to a touchdown support point on or near to the seabed is imaged with a 3 dimensional sonar imaging system to produce coordinates of a series of touchdown points using a time sequence of sonar images, and the time series of touchdown points is recorded.

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: The invention relates to a securing means and a method for securing a civil engineering element to a construction machine by means of a flexible securing element, wherein a first end of the flexible securing element is attached to the construction machine and a second end is provided with a connecting link which can pass through a securing lug on the civil engineering element and can be releasably fastened to the construction machine by a connecting means. According to the invention, a detection unit is provided on the connecting means, which detection unit is designed for identifying fastening of the connecting link to the connecting means. The detection unit can generate and output a signal if fastening of the connecting link is identified.