Abstract: A formation tester tool can include a longitudinal probe drill collar having a surface, a formation probe assembly located within the probe drill collar, the formation probe assembly including a piston reciprocal between a retracted position and an extended position beyond the probe drill collar surface, the piston being slidingly retained within a chamber, a seal pad located at an end of the piston, the seal pad including an outer surface defining a partial cylindrical surface. The piston includes an outer surface having non-circular cross-sectional shape and the chamber includes an inner surface having a non-circular shape similar to the shape of the piston outer surface. The formation tester tool can include interchangeable draw down assemblies and a flow bore having a curving path.

Abstract: A pin retaining assembly for an advancing ram includes a retention plate and a retainer. The retention plate includes two oppositely facing surfaces and a channel with a notch between the two surfaces. The retainer includes a main body, a pin receiving slot, and at least two flanges. The main body is configured to slide into the notch of the channel and extend through a surface of the retention plate. The pin receiving slot has an open mouth through an end of the main body. A first flange extends from one end of the main body along a surface of retention plate and a second flange extends from another end of the main body along another surface of retention plate. The flanges retain the main body of the retainer in the first notch from moving in a direction defined by a longitudinal axis of the pin receiving slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for underwater pipes comprising an ultrasound emitting system and at least one ultrasound receiving transducer is lowered into he marine environment. During an inspection phase, an ultrasound inspection source of the ultrasound emitting system and the receiving transducer are disposed on each side of the pipe. The inspection source is activated, and an ultrasound signal captured by the receiving transducer is recorded. In response to the observation of an anomaly in the ultrasound signal captured by the receiving transducer, a power source of the ultrasound emitting system is then coupled to the pipe at the aforementioned location, and the power source is activated in order to destroy the obstruction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an underwater docking system and a docking method using the system. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for docking a target body on a docking station under water, the system comprising: a guide unit provided to the docking station to transmit at least one guide signal to the target body; an agent unit connected to the docking station by a smart cable and disposed at a position spaced apart from the docking station so that the agent unit is moored under the water in a direction corresponding to a tidal current; and the target body configured to be guided toward the agent unit by the guide signal and then connected to a portion of the agent unit.

Abstract: A driven pile comprising a substantially cylindrical shaft, wherein the shaft provides a first pile end and a second pile end, wherein a socket is arranged on the driven pile in the region of the second pile end, wherein the socket or the driven pile has an abutment in the region of the second pile end so that a further driven pile can be inserted with a first pile end as far as a maximum insertion depth defined by the abutment, wherein the socket and/or the driven pile in the region of the second pile end provides or provide in the interior at least one undercut portion extending at least substantially to the abutment.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a watercraft launch and storage assembly including: a mounting assembly; a first step; a watercraft cage pivotally carried by the mounting assembly having a launch position and a storage position; a continuous loop included in the watercraft cage for receiving and surrounding at least a portion of a watercraft; and, a watercraft cage plane defined through the watercraft cage that is generally perpendicular to the waterline when the watercraft cage is in the storage position so that when a watercraft is received by the watercraft cage and in the storage position an angle defined between a plane running through the width of the watercraft and the watercraft cage plane is greater than 90° reducing the amount of water and debris that can enter the watercraft in the storage position.

Abstract: A floodwall system comprises a plurality of wall panels detachably attached to a plurality of columns that are anchored to the ground. The plurality of wall panels include a plurality of chambers that receive water through perforations to increase the mass of these wall panels.

Abstract: There is provided a floating structure. The floating structure according to the present invention comprises a main body including leg wells; legs penetrating the leg wells and having cords and racks; a unit installation means positioned in the main body as surroundings of the leg wells. According to the present invention, a jacking unit is installed in the main body by the unit installation means.

Abstract: Flood control apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, a flood control apparatus includes a structural frame. The structural frame has an elongated length in a longitudinal direction. The structural frame includes a plurality of transverse support structures, that are generally aligned in the transverse direction, and that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The structural frame includes one or more longitudinal coupling structures that couple the plurality of transverse support structures together. One or more sheets of material are coupled to the structural frame. When in use, earth may be used to substantially fill an inner region of the apparatus that is enclosed by the one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame.

Abstract: A multi-axial geogrid possesses a series of interconnected strands or ribs that are arranged along at least two different axes within the plane of the structure. The strands or ribs have an aspect ratio, defined as the ratio of the thickness to width, of greater than 1.0, thickness being the direction normal to the plane of the structure. The geogrid can be manufactured by modifying the process parameters in order to create high aspect ratio ribs, using any of the various known methods for producing geogrids. A reinforced civil engineering structure, and method therefor, is formed by embedding in soil one or more horizontal layers of geogrid having high aspect ratio ribs. The reinforced structure shows improved rutting performance when subjected to vehicular traffic.

Abstract: A precast concrete storm water assembly comprised of a plurality of modular precast concrete components is provided. More specifically, a fluid collection and containment system is provided that comprises a plurality of underground modules and permeable devices, such as ground level pavers, to allow the ingress of fluid at a predetermined rate. Various permeable and non-permeable conduits are also contemplated for conveying fluid within the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self filling cover device for covering a surface of a liquid, having a shell (2) defining inner cavity, and the inner cavity is to be filled at least partly with liquid, so that the inner cavity is divided in at least two chambers (3,4) by a separating means (5,51,52), and one of the chambers (4) is provided by at least one opening (6) formed in the shell (2).

Abstract: A high capacity flood pump system includes a floodwater diversion pathway; a pump assembly above the floodwater diversion pathway, the pump assembly including a flood pump having a pump housing with a pump housing inlet and a pump housing outlet; an impeller housing disposed in fluid communication with the pump housing between the pump housing inlet and the pump housing outlet, the impeller housing disposed beneath the pump housing; at least one impeller disposed in the impeller housing; and a power unit drivingly engaging the at least one impeller.

Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.

Abstract: A universal connecting element which is capable of connecting sheet pile wall components, such as sheet piles, beam piles and other sheet pile connectors, that have various types of interlocks such as Larssen locks, cold formed hooks and knob and claw locks. The connecting element includes a reverse “S” shaped profile to which has been added either a neck and head strip, for connection with a claw strip, or a claw strip, for connection with a head strip, or both.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for a piece of equipment, such as a marine deck or dock structure, which is intended for contact with wire rope is disclosed. The protective sleeve comprises at least one sleeve section shaped to conform to a portion of a peripheral surface of the equipment. The at least one sleeve section may comprise a first end portion, a second end portion, and a means for connecting the at least one sleeve section in end-to-end relation by connecting at least the first end portion of a first sleeve section to the second end portion of the same sleeve section or an adjacent sleeve section. In certain embodiments, the protective sleeve may be composed of a durable polymer material having a Shore D hardness of greater than about 60 or a Shore A hardness of greater than about 85.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for remediating contaminated soil through separation and process of highly contaminated coarse soil, the system including: a screen adapted to separate the contaminated soil introduced into soil having given particle sizes; multiple hydrocyclones adapted to re-separate the soil having particle sizes of more than the given values by particle size from the soil having the given particle sizes separated through the screen; a remediating unit adapted to wash the soil separated through the multiple hydrocyclones by particle size; and a filtering unit adapted to separate water from the soil washed through the remediating unit.

Abstract: An on-board re-inflatable containment boom for a waterborne vessel that lies substantially flat and capable of being spooled when deflated and floats in the proper orientation when inflated, that has re-inflatable float sections which are sequentially inflated during deployment and sequentially deflated during recovery, that can be repeatedly deployed and recovered for the purposes of training and testing, and that can be deployed immediately upon occurrence of an oil spill from a waterborne vessel because of its on-board location and its rapid deployment, and a control system for proper inflation and deflation of re-inflatable containment boom during deployment and recovery.

Abstract: A ground and rock anchor includes a longitudinally stable, flexible tensile member, an anchorage part, in which the tensile member may be fixed by the one end region, and an anchor head device, in which the tensile member is held by the other end region. The anchorage part is designed to be introduced into a drilled hole in the ground or rock and anchored therein. The longitudinally stable, flexible tensile member is provided at least at the one end region fixed in the anchorage part with at least one first loop. The anchorage part is a substantially prismatic or cylindrical longitudinal body, which is formed of a hardenable composition, by which the at least one first loop of the longitudinally stable, flexible tensile member is surrounded. This configuration allows the forces to be optimally transferred.

Abstract: A device and method allow a longer sealing element to be used on a packer or other downhole tool while providing an increase in the total amount of setting force that can be used and providing for more uniform or balanced setting of the sealing element. The packer may be first set using internal bore pressure to radially expand one end of the sealing element with a first hydraulic setting mechanism. The packer may then be set a second time using annulus pressure to continue the radial expansion of the sealing element with a second hydraulic setting mechanism.