Abstract: A method of temporarily supporting a soil mass susceptible to slide at a scarp slope bounding the soil mass includes advancing a supporting wall in an advancing direction along the scarp slope; and, in addition to the movement in the advancing direction, also moving a surface portion, in direct contact with the soil mass, of the supporting wall, so as to minimize friction between the soil mass and the supporting wall.

Abstract: Existing underwater networks are formed using telecommunications cable technology designed for intercontinental links. The network is formed by a continuous series of transport segments that are connected in the factory by repeaters or bypasses and deployed continuously from the surface by a cable ship.

Abstract: Fiber-optic cable is dispensed underwater into a trench from a vehicle moving along the bed of the body of water. The cable is wound on a stationary spool and dispensed over the end of the spool by a rotary arm driven by a motor controlled to maintain a desired tension in the cable. The cable has a fiber optic core, metal wires wound around the core, and a tensioned laminate of copper tape adhered to plastic tape wound around the wires.

Abstract: A pipeline laying ship and an improved method of laying a pipeline in a marine environment is disclosed. The pipeline laying ship is a dynamically positioned barge or self-propelled dynamically positioned vessel with a hull having a deck area that supports a pair of reels. The reels are independently rotatable, and are position to generally port and starboard relative to one another. A pipe joint storage area is provided for containing multiple joints of pipe. One or more pipeline welding stations are provided on the deck next to the reels, the pipeline welding stations being positioned to join the joints of pipe together to form an elongated pipeline that can be wound upon a selected reel of said pair of reels. A tower is provided for guiding the elongated pipeline as it is unwound from a selected reel, the tower including at least a bend controller, a straightener and a tensioner.

Abstract: A system for laying a pipeline from a floating vessel onto the ocean floor in relatively deep ocean water which provides jacking mechanisms which can be used to gimbal the tower which incorporate the ability to be independently raised in height, have horizontal slide planes to overcome the sinusoidal differences in distances in attachment points when tilting supported objects, and provide a gimbaling device to allow for the attachment to supported objects which are tilted in the raising process.

Abstract: A cable deployment system and method for laying a cable on the sea floor. The cable deployment system includes a cable having a first cable section connected to a riser cable section. The riser cable section includes an armor that is connected to a drum capable of containing a required length of the first cable section. A stinger is attached to the drum and shaped to allow the first cable section to exit the drum. The cable deployment system also includes a tensioning device attached to the drum. The tensioning device is capable of maintaining a tension in the first cable section during deployment of the first cable section from the drum. The method of deploying the cable in deep water from a surface vessel includes the steps of containing the first cable section within the drum and lowering the drum from the surface vessel. An end of the first cable section is secured to the sea floor and the first cable section is deployed from the drum onto the sea floor.

Abstract: A pipeline recovery system (10) is disclosed having a recovery vessel (11) with an upper deck (12) and a pivotal pipeline ramp (13) mounted to the bow of the vessel. The system also includes a pipeline support bed (22) having a middle portion (23), two grated portions (24) straddling the middle portion, and a liquid collection trough (25) coupled to a seawater contaminate separator (26). A pipeline positioning winch (30) is mounted to a rearward end of the pipeline support bed. A length of a pipeline (P) is lifted from the seabed and onto the support bed where it is secured by a pair of clamping arms (40) and a vertical clamp (41), and cut with a pipe shear (42).

Abstract: A method for laying a pipeline on a surface located under water such as a deep sea bed. The pipeline is held fixedly by tensioners having tensioning elements each extending between a clamping member engaging on the pipeline and a support member connected to a vessel. Tensioning is accomplished by sets of endless clamping bands which apply a braking action to the pipeline. A set of clamping jaws is clamped fixedly to the pipeline and moves along with the pipeline from a starting position to a releasing position. As a set of clamping jaws is clamped to the pipeline, another set of clamping jaws is released from the pipeline and returned to a starting position to continually repeat the cycle of holding and releasing of the pipeline.

Abstract: A marine seismic cable deployment and retrieval system for utilization in conjunction with a marine vessel. The present, searched for invention teaches a large wheel mounted in the front of the vessel for retrieving seismic cable from the water, and a horizontally mounted cable handler comprising an eight wheel cable puller for pulling the cable, the cable puller comprising four pairs of tires in frictional, rotational contact with one another along their outer surfaces, configured to frictionally grab and pull a seismic cable along a linear path. A smaller rear cable puller further urges the cable to the rear of the vessel, and down into the main deck via a chute arrangement.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for storing a continuous length of an assembled jointed tubular conduit on an offshore vessel and for conveying the tubular conduit between the deck of the vessel and a subsurface wellhead on the floor of the body of water. The system includes a carousel positioned around the perimeter of the vessel defining a continuous close-curved carousel pathway in parallel or coplanar alignment with the horizontal deck. The assembled tubular conduit is maintained in coiled storage along the carousel pathway until it is desired to convey the tubular conduit into or out of the carousel. Horizontal and vertical directing means are provided that, in cooperation with rotation of the carousel, enable uncoiling of the tubular conduit from the carousel into the water or recoiling of the tubular conduit into the carousel from the water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously digging a trench in the bottom of a body of water and laying a pipe from a barge therein. The plow is provided with vertical side plates to assist in molding the side of the cut trench so an inclined ramp can move the soil upwardly where it is diverted to each side of the trench. The pipe being laid is extended from a working barge through a hiatus at the aft end of the trenching device. The position of the pipe in the hiatus is monitored and that information is used to properly position the barge with respect to the trenching machine. In one embodiment a gas/oil spring supports the lower horizontal roller at the bottom of the hiatus.

Abstract: This invention provides a plurality of bearing stations in conjunction with traction and braking means to assemble and launch long pipelines where prior assembly and rapid installation are required. A method including prediction of wind, current, and other water forces, is provided for launching submerged pipelines.

Abstract: In mobile laying apparatus for laying an elongated element, such as a cable, in a trench, especially a trench in a sea bed, which apparatus is advanced in a predetermined direction and includes apparatus for digging the trench and ways along which the element slides as it is deposited in the trench, tension control apparatus and a method for preventing the accumulation of such element upstream of the laying apparatus as the element is laid. In the method, a tension force is applied to the element so that the tension thereon upstream of the laying apparatus is at least equal to the tension on the element downstream of the laying apparatus. The tension control apparatus includes motor driven rollers or tracks at the ways which engage the element. The torque which the driving motors apply or alternatively, the energization of the driving motors and the advance of the laying apparatus is controlled by the position of a portion of the element upstream of the laying apparatus.

Abstract: A method of locally supplying slack to an axially tensioned length of pipeline spanning unsupported across an undulating seabed. During pipeline deployment, the pipeline is fitted with two weighted masses that will be positioned on either side of the undulation to be spanned. These masses will be spaced a predetermined distance from each other along the seabed, this distance being less than that between them along the pipeline. Also during deployment, the mid-region of this span is vertically deflected upward while retaining the axial tension in the pipeline. Once the pipeline is properly positioned, the vertical deflection of the pipeline is reduced thereby relieving the axial tension in the pipeline while also introducing sufficient pipeline slack such that the pipeline can closely follow the contours of the undulating seabed.

Abstract: A plough by means of which a cable may be buried below the sea-bed is characterized by means to vary the length of the path of a cable extending through the plough, which means is responsive to changes in tension in the cable. In one preferred form of the plough, the cable extends over two surfaces and these surfaces are mounted so as to be relatively movable in response to changes in the cable tension.

Abstract: A pipe tensioner machine for off-shore pipe laying operations having adjustable squeeze elements for the transfer of tension to the pipes comprises four tensionbanks orientated in an angle of substantially 90.degree. to each other and adjustable by an adjustment device mounted within a frame structure. The tension banks are moveable along guides, said guides having an inclination with respect to the horizontal of substantially 22.5.degree.. The tensionbanks comprise revolving tracks supported by rollers which in turn are supported in groups by levers.

Abstract: A marine continuous pipe laying system comprising a variable departure angle reel operably connected to a retractable trenching plow and backfilling apparatus. The reel comprises a pipe straightening mechanism connected to the rotational axis of the reel by a yoke for automatically maintaining proper bending moment regardless of the departure angle of the pipe. The plow comprises a shaped chisel share which is pivotally retractable within a sled frame for avoiding existing pipelines and varying the depth of cut and is provided with instrumented guide rollers to permit an operator to adjust the tow length of the plow to properly position the plow with respect to the catenary curve of the pipe being laid. The distance between the plow and the backfilling apparatus is adjustable to insure that the pipe is in the bottom of the trench before backfilling occurs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing the simultaneous laying of at least two pipes from a pipe-laying barge using at least two coaxially aligned pipe tensioners, wherein a first pipe tensioner tensions a first pipe and allows a second pipe to pass freely through the tensioner, while a second pipe tensioner tensions the second pipe and allows the first pipe to pass freely through it. The apparatus preferably uses modified conventional equipment so that the barge will be able to lay large pipe with the conventional "stovepipe" laying operation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods of and apparatus for constructing cylindrical structures such as large-diameter pipes for the transport of materials in ocean mining and the like, whereby one or more rolls of previously prepared sheet materials are wound around a core in a cross-wise fashion and bonded and treated by chemical and physical processes from a special floating platform that enables such construction operation in situ on the high seas.