Abstract: A rehabilitating pipe segment for assembling a rehabilitating pipe inside an existing pipe. The rehabilitating pipe segment has first and second segment halves connectable together to provide for the rehabilitating pipe segment an internal surface plate and side and end plates surrounding peripheral edges of the internal surface plate. The first and second segment halves are configured to move relative to one another in a width direction of the rehabilitating pipe segment corresponding to a pipe length direction of the rehabilitating pipe so that the first and second pipe segment halves expand and contract to make the width of the rehabilitating pipe segment variable in the width direction of the rehabilitating pipe segment.

Abstract: A retaining wall system formed from a wire facing unit having an upstanding face section and a rearwardly extending floor section the rear end of which is provided with aligned, transversely extending, openings defined by upstanding U-shaped protuberances. The apertures in the forward portion of a geogrid can be seated over the protuberances and a connector strut interconnects the face section and floor section for providing support therebetween and for securing the geogrid to the floor section. The connector strut includes an elongated rigid rod having a curved first end that extends to a substantially right-angled bend, and a connector rod portion extends from the bend to a second end to secure the geogrid to the floor section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for installing or removing foundation elements, such as piles, anchors, and conductors, in a subsea ground formation, comprising an impact weight, an hydraulic circuit in turn comprising an hydraulic cylinder for lifting and/or accelerating the impact weight respectively away from and towards the element, the cylinder comprising a piston connected to the impact weight, and wherein a pump for generating an underpressure in the hydraulic cylinder such as to lift and/or accelerate the impact weight by means of this underpressure.

Abstract: A bending restrictor assembly for use with a pipeline section has a sleeve affixed to the pipeline section, an outer collar slidably positioned relative to and over the sleeve, and an inner collar slidably positioned relative to an interior of the outer collar. The inner collar in spaced longitudinal relation to an end of the sleeve. The inner and outer collars are slidable relative to a bending of the pipeline section. A series of holes and keyways are formed in the inner and outer collars. Pins are inserted into corresponding holes and keyways so as to correspond to a limit of the bending radius of the pipeline section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a floating system positioned in a body of water having a water bottom, the system comprising a host member floating in the water; an elongated underwater line structure, comprising a top connected to the host; a bottom extending to the seabed and adapted to connect to a flowline lying on the seabed; a first portion of the line structure being shaped concave upward; a second portion of the line structure being shaped concave upward; and a transition segment between being shaped concave downward, the transition segment located between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sheet pile wall component such as a sheet pile, a connection profile or a carrier that exhibits at least one interlock with a uniform cross-section extending across the entire length of the sheet pile wall component for engaging the interlock of an additional sheet pile wall component. According to the invention, a preliminary product is produced by forming using this method, and the interlock when viewed in its cross-section is manufactured at least in sections by shape-cutting at the section of the preliminary product that is to be provided with the interlock, whereby the cross-section of the section is dimensioned sufficiently such that the dimensional deviations caused by forming at the preliminary product are taken into account for the shape-cutting of the interlock.

Abstract: A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.

Abstract: A formation testing apparatus and method are disclosed. In one aspect, a fluid is drawn from a formation, one or more sensors measure pressure of the fluid during the during drawing of the fluid, and a processor estimates an inflection point from the pressure measurements and controls the drawing of the fluid from the inflection point until the pressure of the fluid drops to a selected level.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for containing and recovering undersea oil or gas well leakage by reason of the leaked fluid being lighter than sea water may include a canopy, or a series of interconnected canopies, which, when placed over a leak site, allow leaked fluid to be captured and displace sea water with the canopy or series of canopies having an arrangement, such as one or more conduits, for flow of leaked fluid upward from a respective canopy to the surface. With a system with multiple canopies in a series with exit arrangements for leaked fluid from a lower canopy to a next upper canopy, the series can readily extend from the surface to a great depth and allow transfer of volumes of the leaked fluid that are not limited by the capacity of canopies or conduits at deep locations.

Abstract: A flotation structure for a buoyant flood protection barrier includes a flotation body (1) adapted to rise and fall with flood water. A flexible membrane (3) is sealed at an upper region to the flotation body and sealed at a lower region. A plurality of panels (5) are hinged by means of hinge pins about substantially parallel horizontal axes, a topmost panel being hinged to the flotation body, a lowermost panel being hinged substantially at ground level, and intervening panels being hinged to each other. A scissor arrangement (9) is pivotably mounted at an upper end to the flotation body and pivotably mounted at a lower end and provided with a pivot pin (17) at a crossing point of arms (11, 13) of the scissor arrangement, the pivot pin being secured to a member (19) provided on at least one of the hinge pins (23).

Abstract: An underwater oil and gas containment and retrieval system comprising a collapsible deployable oil and gas containment canopy including a dome comprised of several separately stored dome panels (1), a discharge vent tube (2) including inflatable air chambers (14) to provide some rigidity and shape, dome panel storage containers (3) for storing the dome panels (1) on the ocean floor, and a separate discharge vent tube storage container (16) for storing the discharge vent tube separately on the ocean floor. The system is especially useful for deep water wells below 500 feet deep.

Abstract: The teachings herein are directed to a wave forming apparatus and method including a channel directing a flow of water over modular forms in the bed of the channel, such as aerofoils, that can be changed, repositioned or removed to create various effects such as barrel waves for surfing. Also disclosed is a water smoothener system and method for reducing turbulence in water flowing through such an apparatus.

Abstract: A shoreline erosion mitigation device placed in a body of water including a multiplicity of high density polyethylene pipes each of a given length and diameter with each pipe being generally cylindrical in shape and having a hollow interior, the multiplicity of high density polyethylene pipes arranged in approximately parallel rows with adjacent pipes connected together by a system using clamps and flexible links, which leaves a space between adjacent pipes so that by increasing or decreasing the number, length and/or diameter of the pipes and/or the number of clamps, the design of the device is adjusted to accommodate differing shoreline conditions. When a wave having a given force traveling from the body of water towards the shoreline encounters the device, the force of the wave is reduced by causing the water to travel over the device and through the spaces between adjacent pipes before reaching the shoreline.

Abstract: Wave attenuation systems are disclosed. For example, a wave-attenuating panel can define a plane, a center-of buoyancy and a center-of-mass spaced from the center-of-buoyancy such that the panel is stably buoyant in a liquid with the plane oriented vertically. Wave attenuators are also disclosed. Such a wave attenuator can comprise a first row of support members extending vertically relative to a seabed and a second row of support members spaced from the first row. A vertically oriented, movable panel can be positioned between the first row and the second row, such that the panel is configured to rise and fall in a substantially vertical plane. Such wave attenuators can also comprise a second, fixed panel that remains submerged.

Abstract: A composite pile is comprised of two or more rigid hollow tubes interconnected together end-to-end by a pile connector. A boring head is secured to a leading lower end of a lowermost one of the tubes. A force transmitting member is removably connectable to a top end of an uppermost one of the rigid hollow tubes to receive a driving force for driving each of the two or more rigid hollow tubes into the ground. The pile connector has opposed axially aligned projecting pile connecting members extending from opposed parallel faces of a transverse impact transfer disc and extend a predetermined distance in adjacent open ends of the tubes to maintain the tubes in alignment with one another.

Abstract: Superabrasive inserts are disclosed. More particularly, a superabrasive insert may comprise a superabrasive layer bonded to a substrate at an interface. Further, the superabrasive layer may include a central substantially planar surface, a peripheral side surface, and an arcuate peripheral surface extending between the central substantially planar surface and the peripheral side surface. In one embodiment, the arcuate peripheral surface may comprise a lateral extent and an extension depth, wherein a ratio of the lateral extent to the extension depth is at least about 1.5. In another embodiment, an arcuate peripheral surface may comprise a substantially circular arc, wherein the substantially planar surface is tangent to the substantially circular arc and a tangent reference line to the substantially circular arc forms an angle of at least about 10° with the peripheral side surface. Subterranean drilling tools (e.g., drill bits) including at least one superabrasive insert are disclosed.

Abstract: An arrangement for fixing two concentric tubes (1, 2) together by means of one or more pressure inducing members, preferably each formed as a pad (6); the member acts to press the tubes together; a support (3), preferably formed as a collar fixed inside the outer tube (1), is provided opposite the or each location of the or each member. The support is designed to maintain the circularity of the inner tube so that it can be readily withdrawn from the outer tube without jamming. This is useful for off-shore installations.

Abstract: A turf reinforcement mat comprises at least one polymer net layer; a non-woven mat comprising a plurality of multi-dimensional polymer fibers; and, a polymer yarn, stitching the net layer to the non-woven mat. A method for erosion control and revegetation facilitation comprises providing a turf reinforcement mat comprising at least one polymer net layer; a non-woven mat comprising a plurality of multi-dimensional polymer fibers; and, a polymer yarn, stitching the net layer to the non-woven mat; laying the turf reinforcement mat on a section of ground to be reinforced; securing the turf reinforcement mat to the ground; distributing soil and seed onto the turf reinforcement mat such that the section of ground is quickly revegetated and thereby protected from further erosion.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for forming rolled up spiral shaped tubular inserts of interlocking seams of elongated strip material and for inserting the inserts into damaged channels such as damaged culverts, sewer lines, pipes, and the like. The inserts are released to expand outward and unravel until the walls of the unraveling insert abut against interior walls of the damaged channel forming a protective interior wall for the damaged channel. One side of the insert strips can have a hook, and an opposite side of the strips can have a longitudinal groove wherein the hook attaches to and slides within the groove. Slidable surfaces such as bushings, Teflon coatings and O-rings can be used along the interlocking seams to allow for reduced friction as the strip materials are rolled into contracted positions and later expanded out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wave pool with a beach having a body of water and a wave generator that travels along a relatively shallow channel across from the beach. The wave generator is adapted to travel through the channel and displace the water in the channel to create primary waves on which surfing maneuvers can be performed. The primary waves in turn enter into the body of water to produce secondary waves that can be acted upon by the inclined pool floor so that they eventually break and spill onto the beach. The water in the channel is preferably provided with a reverse current to enable the absolute speed of the wave generator to be reduced, which allows the channel to be shorter in length without significantly impacting the wave effects that are created, which helps reduce the cost of construction.