Abstract: Geotechnical apparatus comprising at least one rod provided with a probe, which rod has a longitudinal bore extending along its body which is in fluid communication with one or more lubricating openings behind the probe for introducing lubricant along the rod's superficial area, wherein the apparatus further comprises a drive unit for the at least one rod for pushing said rod into the ground or pulling it from the ground.

Abstract: A geotechnical apparatus comprising a holder with a coiled rod with a probe, such as a penetrometer, a rod bending/straightening device and a drive unit for both uncoiling the coiled continuous rod and pushing the uncoiled rod with the probe into the ground and for pulling such a rod with the probe out of the ground and recoiling the continuous rod, wherein the drive unit comprises two grippers to alternatingly grip the rod and move it along its longitudinal axis over a predefined length, the bending/straightening device has a first set of rollers, at least two of which are at one side of the rod and the remaining rollers are at an opposing side of the rod, such that the rollers convert the coiled rod to an essentially straight rod when uncoiling and convert the straight rod to a coiled rod of essentially constant coil diameter when coiling.

Abstract: Handling unit equipped to acquire a sample from a seabed top layer by retracting and retrieving a piston corer holding the sample from a seabed, and to remove the sample from the piston corer, wherein the handling unit is a standalone unit arranged for mounting on a vessel and for retrieval of a sample from the piston corer while it remains vertical. The handling unit comprises a container with dimensions and/or lifting points and/or connections as provided on a standard sea freight container. It also comprises a lifting device which is foldable out of and back into a container of the handling unit.

Abstract: Offshore drilling installation comprising a platform selected from the group comprising a vessel, a pontoon, a jack-up, and further comprising a drill string drivingly connected with said platform and optionally provided with a heave motion compensator, wherein at its lower end the drill string is pro-vided with a drill bit, and wherein a seabed template suspended with lift wires from the platform is placed on a seabed, and wherein clamping means mounted in the seabed template are provided for fixing the drill string relative to the seabed template, which clamping means are embodied as a chuck which is arranged for clamping the drill string whilst enabling the drill string's rotation.

Abstract: A movable supporting construction for placing on a floor, comprising a lower part and an upper part cooperating with said lower part, wherein the lower part is designed to rest on the floor and to assume a position that is determined by the condition of the floor, and the upper part has a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the upper part is suspended freely above the lower part and in the second position, the upper part rests on the lower part maintaining a predetermined invariant position, wherein in the second position, the lower part and the upper part are in line contact, thereby determining a contact line that forms at least a portion of a closed line.

Abstract: A movable supporting construction for placing on a floor, comprising a lower part and an upper part cooperating with said lower part, wherein the lower part is designed to rest on the floor and to assume a position that is determined by the condition of the floor, and the upper part has a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the upper part is suspended freely above the lower part and in the second position, the upper part rests on the lower part maintaining a predetermined invariant position, wherein in the second position, the lower part and the upper part are in line contact, thereby determining a contact line that forms at least a portion of a closed line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole rotary coring device placeable in a drill string and comprising a head section, a motor, and a core barrel having an outer motor comprising a rotor connected to the outer barrel and a stator to the head section, whereby the rotor and the stator are movable with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the drill string.

Abstract: An apparatus for taking a soil sample includes a drill pipe, a first driving gear for introducing the drill pipe into the soil, a sampling bush which movably fits into the drill pipe and a second driving gear for introducing the sampling bush into the soil.

Abstract: A soil analysis and sampling system is provided with an outer tube (1) having near its outer end a part (3) with a decreased inside diameter and at its outer end a drilling head (1') having an opening in the centre; a series of extension tubes (2) which are connected to the top end of the outer tube (1); an upward seal (18) for the extension tubes (2); a pump system for introducing compressed fluid under the upward seal (18); and a tool provided with a hydraulic cylinder (8) cooperating with the outer tube (1), which cylinder (8) comprises a piston (9) moving in a linear motion when fluid pressure is exerted onto one side of the piston (9), and a rod (12), connected at one outer end with the piston (9) and at the other outer end with a sampling tube (13) or bottom hole analysis probe, whereby the downward movement of the piston pushes the tube (13) or probe below the drilling head (1') into the ground.