Abstract: A geotextile fabric constructed as a bi-axially oriented, open grid of high modulus of elasticity strands impregnated with resinous material which is flexible when cured. The fabric may be stored and installed in roll or sheet form and provides high-strength, low-strain reinforcement of earthen structures which is resistant to abrasion, water and chemical attack from soil.

Abstract: In a system for mooring offshore drilling units, a first mooring assembles installed at a first drilling venue, after which the mobile offshore drilling unit is moored by connection to the mooring lines. A second mooring assembly is installed at a second drilling venue while drilling operations are carried out at the first drilling venue. In this manner the mobile offshore drilling unit can be relocated between successive drilling venues with minimum down time. Less than complete mooring assemblies can be used to temporarily secure the mobile offshore drilling unit.

Abstract: A durable frost heave damage preventive structure of underground structures applicable easily and at low cost to many different kinds of underground structures. The frost heave damage preventive structure includes a plate-like reaction member (7) provided at the bottom of an underground structure (1) approximately in parallel to a freezing front in the ground.

Abstract: A pile consisting of a tapered bottom section of polygon-shaped steel tubing and a top cylindrical section of steel tubing spliced together to form a composite pile, which, after being driven, is filled with concrete.

Abstract: A three-dimensional net includes front and rear base nets interconnected with connecting yarn with a predetermined space therebetween. The front and rear base nets each include braid parts forming a meshed structure which presents mesh openings bounded by intersections of the braid parts, each of the braid parts including at least one wale. The mesh openings of a first of the front and rear base nets is larger than the mesh openings of a second of the front and rear base nets, and the front and rear base nets are connected together by passing the connecting yarns between all the braid parts of the first base net and a corresponding portion of the braid parts of the second base net in positions opposed to the braid parts of the first net.

Abstract: A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surface, a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.

Abstract: A net includes a bag body, an endless suspension rope, and a top closing rope. The bag body prevents scour of an underwater structure, and is formed into a mesh by a knitted fabric. The endless suspension rope is inserted through the mesh adjacent to an opening portion of the bag body. The top closing rope closes the opening of the bag body, and is inserted through a mesh adjacent to the mesh through which the suspension rope is inserted.

Abstract: A downhole tool for cleaning internal surfaces of subsea drilling rig equipment, including drilling risers, blowout preventor assemblies and wellhead assemblies, as well as for retrieving wear bushings, comprising an elongated support body, at least a pair of scraper blades and wash ports. A unique method of cleaning internal surfaces of subsea drilling rig equipment and retrieving a wear bushing in a single operation.

Abstract: When an improving material used for ground improving construction is ejected into the ground, an improving material having a predetermined gel time is ejected through a vast number of points simultaneously or selectively from ejection ports provided in improving material transport passages such that the positions of the ejection ports are offset. The improving material can be ejected through the vast number of points as designed. A stroke, start and stop of an advancing and retreating movement adjusting device can be adjusted through a screw of the advancing and retreating movement adjusting device. A slide guide as a supporting mechanism is fitted to a slide bar so that even if a load deviated with respect to a piston rod is applied. The piston can be advanced and retreated smoothly, and an automatic on-off valve is interposed in the piston so that the improving material can be intaken and discharged smoothly.

Abstract: A running tool is used to install a load shoulder and a wear bushing in a subsea wellhead. A subsea wellhead has a locator shoulder, and grooved upper and lower profiles. The running tool has a cylindrical wear bushing that lands on a locator shoulder provided in the bore above a grooved lower profile in a wellhead housing. The running tool also carries a load shoulder ring and a split lock ring. The installation process consists of preparing the tool before running the tool subsea. Flowby ports on the running tool remain open during installation to speed the trip-in operation. The flowby ports are closed by lowering the central mandrel after the running tool lands. Then a portion of the wear bushing is moved downward, which in turn pushes the load shoulder out into the lower grooved profile to retain the load shoulder ring and wear bushing with the wellhead.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the installation of a deck on an offshore substructure. The invention is particularly useful with a floating substructure. Two independent pontoons each have two columns spaced apart from each other that extend upwardly from the pontoons. On each pontoon, a support beam attached to the columns spans the space between the columns. In another embodiment, there is no support beam across the space between the columns. Each pontoon is provided with ballast tanks that allow the pontoons to be selectively ballasted or de-ballasted to control pontoon depth for receiving a deck or installing a deck on an offshore substructure. The pontoons may be ballasted down during transit of the deck such that the main body portion of the pontoons is below significant wave action and the columns present a relatively small water plane area. The pontoons allow the deck to be placed directly above the offshore substructure.

Abstract: A process and machine for receiving and processing to a transportable and usable condition, water soaked waste dredge removed from watery bodies. The process includes the steps of separating oversize material from the watery bulk waste, grinding organic oversize material to pulp, adding the pulp to the watery bulk, adding stabilizers to the bulk, conveying the aggregate to a transporting vehicle and performing the mixing process within the vehicle. The process further includes transporting the mixture to a point of use, spreading the mixture, spreading a pozzolanic binder on the mixture and mixing the binder with the mixture in situ.

Abstract: A drilling system includes a work string supporting a bottom hole assembly. The work string including lengths of pipe having a non-metallic portion. The work string preferably includes a composite umbilical having a fluid impermeable liner, multiple load carrying layers, and a wear layer. Multiple electrical conductors and data transmission conductors are embedded in the load carrying layers for carrying current or transmitting data between the bottom hole assembly and the surface. The bottom hole assembly includes a bit, a gamma ray and inclinometer instrument package, a propulsion system with resistivity antenna and steerable assembly, an electronics section, a transmission, and a power section for rotating the bit. The electrical conductors in the composite umbilical provide power to the electronics section and may provide power to the power section. The data transmission conduits in the composite umbilical transmit the data from the downhole sensors to the surface where the data is processed.

Abstract: A connector for tying back a riser from a subsea wellhead to a platform, wherein the wellhead has an internal wellhead housing with external grooves thereon. The connector having a plurality of dog members carried within a cavity which engage the external grooves. The dog members are actuated by axial movement of a piston linked to a cam ring. The connector has a plurality of transfer members located within the cavity to support the dog members and transfer upward loading to the wellhead housing during tension on one side due to bending. Further, the connector has a release ring which forces the dog members out of engagement with the external grooves when the connector is released.

Abstract: A method for treating materials dredged from a waterway, such as a harbor or channel, and forming a mixture suitable for beneficial re-use as structural fill. The dredged materials (28) may be placed in a treatment vessel (26) which transports the dredged materials (28) through a plurality of processing stages including a dewatering stage, a debris removal stage, a fixation, stabilization and solidification stage, a curing stage, and an offloading stage. The fixation, stabilization and solidification stage involves adding a cement type additive such as Portland Cement along with other additives which stabilize the dredged materials by chemical fixation and solidification to form the structural fill.

Abstract: A rotary drag bit suitable for directional drilling. The bit includes a bit body from which extend radially-oriented blades carrying PDC cutters. The blades extend to primary gage pads, above which secondary gage pads are either longitudinally spaced or rotationally spaced, or both, defining a gap or discontinuity between the primary and secondary gage pads through which drilling fluid from adjacent junk slots may communicate laterally or circumferentially. Longitudinally leading edges of the secondary gage pads carry cutters, such as chisel-shaped cutters for smoothing the sidewall of the borehole. The cutters are preferably configured and oriented so as to provide a relatively aggressive cutting edge to the formation in both longitudinal and rotational directions of bit movement. Cutters may likewise be disposed on the trailing ends of the secondary gage pads to provide an up-drill capability to facilitate removal of the bit from the borehole.

Abstract: An equipped balancing jacket includes a stiff back containing a first stage reducer connected by lines to a high and low pressure distributor connected to various equipment. The jacket further includes pneumatic exhaust valves, a manual emergency control and a mouth inflation devcie.

Abstract: A flood gate for use in a foundation crawl space and the like comprises a frame having side walls defining a fluid passageway therethrough, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for bidirectional rotation between two open positions and a closed position therebetween to permit tidal water flow therethrough, and at least one catching assembly for holding the door in the closed position against a minimum level of pressure of the tidal water flow. Tidal flood waters exceeding the minimum pressure level are automatically vented through the crawl space and the like reducing a risk of structural damage from the tidal flood waters. The flood gate can further comprise a door having a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the opening, and a screen covering the opening. The automatic louver assembly opens and closes responsive to ambient temperature.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing bumper system features a variably controllable valve which is responsive to impact conditions. The initially closed valve opens upon maximization of the pressure reading upon the bumper, and maintains the same open setting (in other words, the same valve area) during such period of pressure maximization. During the succeeding period of pressure declination from maximum, the valve undergoes ongoing adjustment of its open setting (in other words, ongoing adjustment of its valve area) so that the reaction force of the bumper remains constant. The valve closes (in other words, the valve area becomes zero) when the pressure falls abruptly toward zero (an occurrence which correlates with a similar plummet in reaction force, as well as with near or approximate motionlessness of the impacting body), thereby avoiding or curtailing an unwanted rebound effect.

Abstract: An assembly for drilling at least one lateral well from a well bore having a longitudinally premilled window formed therein and having a first orientation key-way member formed in the premilled window and in communication with the premilled window and located on the down hole portion of the premilled window and having a second orientation key-way member formed in the premilled window and in communication with the premilled window and located on the up hole portion of the premilled window. The window is provided with a cover for closing the premilled window and first and second orientation key way members from fluid communication. A whip stock is provided for drilling at least one multilateral well. A key is provided which is spring loaded for being received into the premilled window and guided into locking engagement in the first orientation key way as the key is lowered down hole.