Abstract: A shockwave generator pre-treats one or more production zones within a well to facilitate recovery of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons from the well. The well may be heated to a particular temperature, where after a cooling agent is introduced through the shockwave generator which effects a cooling action in the walls of the well and induces cracking which is propagated by the tremors or shocks of the cooling agent as it exits the generator. The initiated cracks may be further propagated using one or more additional stimulation methods, including a freeze-thaw method which is implemented through a subsystem having overlapping components with the shockwave generator subsystem.

Abstract: A base frame for an offshore platform and a method for installing such a base frame includes a self-floating lower building structure having a stable trim, at least one tank in the lower building structure which is dimensioned such that the lower building structure sinks when the tank is flooded, mechanism for flooding at least one tank, and a mechanism for bearing piles in upright standing arrangement on the lower building structure. The method builds a base frame, transports the base frame to the sea in a self-floating manner and floods the base frame until it is on the sea floor and then anchors the base frame to the sea floor with piles.

Abstract: An anchor socket system for vertically supporting a post includes external and internal, open-ended cylinders, wherein the external cylinder includes first and second semi-cylinder halves each having mirroring tapers and semi-annular upper rims on each respective inner facing wall. Tightening bolts in communication with the internal and external cylinders are rotated to raise the internal cylinder relative to the external cylinder, thereby causing tapered wedges on the outer facing surface of the internal cylinder to exert pressure against the corresponding tapers on the inner facing surface of the external cylinder. As the diameter of the internal cylinder contracts, pressure is exerted against a post by the inner facing walls of the internal cylinder while the outer facing walls of the external cylinder halves simultaneously exert pressure against the inner facing surface of a core-drilled hole, thereby locking the anchor socket and post into place within the core-drilled hole.

Abstract: A method for installing an underwater riser between a seabed (52) and a surface (12), and a tubular pipe suspended from a float (24): The float (24) is weighted to be able to submerge it to drive one pipe end (28) toward the seabed (52) for connecting the tubular pipe at the seabed. Unwinding the flexible pipe (20) to extend it catenary fashion between the float (24) and a surface installation (10) so as to weight the float (24) with the unwound flexible pipe (20) and cause the submersion of the float (24), whereby the other pipe end (28) is driven toward the seabed (52).

Abstract: A levitation system communicates fish mutually exclusively upstream and downstream, with minimal trauma to fish, in harmony with their homing instinct and natural levitation process, in discrete micro-steps aggregated in macro steps, with optimally adjusted water flows, through capsules of stations differing in elevation by 50 to 100 feet, connected through inclined conduits in series and in parallel. The process starts with electricity from a utility to pump water from the forebay to the dam crest. Water moves slowly in controlled cascades through stations from crest to the afterbay. Surplus electricity is generated as pressure is adjusted at each station. Cooler water drawn from below the surface of the forebay is blended at stations along the passageway and spent water is flushed. Energy losses are attributable mainly to attraction flow at the station a few feet above the afterbay and are mitigated by a moderate negative pressure to control flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes providing agricultural grade gypsum to a mixing device using a conveyor, providing a fluid to the mixing device using a pump, mixing the agricultural grade gypsum with the fluid to produce a gypsum slurry using the mixing device, and pumping the gypsum slurry to a storage tank. In another embodiment a system includes a conveyor providing an agricultural grade gypsum, a pump providing a fluid, a mixing device configured to mix the agricultural grade gypsum provided by the conveyor with the fluid provided by the pump to produce a gypsum slurry, and a slurry pump configured to pump the gypsum slurry from the mixing device to a storage tank.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for supporting a structure. Beneath the structure there is arranged a cohesion structure, which transfers the structure load through shaft adhesion to surrounding ground. The cohesion structure includes an expansion element having a wall of flexible material, inside which there is injected along an injecting pipe unreacted polymer, which reacts in the expansion element. The expansion element with the reacted polymer therein constitutes the cohesion pillar. The polymer is water absorbing material and the wall of the expansion element is of water-permeable material, whereby the cohesion pillar is arranged to absorb water from the surrounding ground so as to improve the adhesion between the expansion element and the surrounding ground.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cutting a trench (e.g., for a fiber optic cable or wire conductors) in an existing covering surface (e.g., a road surface), wherein the trench has a depth of approximately 10 to 12 inches and a width of approximately 0.5 to 1.25 inches. Debris from the cut trench is evacuated (e.g., vacuumed) from the trench as the trench is cut. The trench may be backfilled by flowing a non-shrinking composition into at least a portion of the trench and, after hardening of the non-shrinking composition, applying a topping material to a remaining portion of the trench. In one example, the non-shrinking composition is configured to rigidify within one hour of being flowed into the trench, be substantially impermeable thereafter (e.g., having a hydraulic permeability of less than 0.0000001 cm/s upon drying), and be non-compressible and non-expanding.

Abstract: A vertically draining, particulate confinement structure may prevent side to side migration of particulate materials and may provide a way to ensure a consistent fill depth of the particulate materials. The particulate materials may include rubber granules. The vertical draining feature of the system may prevent water from accumulating on the turf surface by providing adequate vertical drainage. The vertical draining feature may be attributed to the combination of the turf surface with a confinement structure and the particulate materials that support this turf surface. The confinement structure and particulate materials also inhibit underlayment migration of the turf surface.

Abstract: A pumpable crib bag assembly includes a containment bag having a body and a supporting member. The containment bag is configured to contain a cementitious material therein and has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. The pumpable crib bag assembly further includes a reinforcing layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the containment bag.

Abstract: A technique for protecting a structure from an impact with ice involves providing a horizontal spall initiator extending from the wall a distance of 1 to 10 cm, the horizontal spall initiator being resilient to the ice impact, and formed by blade segments having a blade width less than ½ a thickness of an expected hard zone of the ice; and situating the horizontal spell initiator at an elevation of the expected hard zone. Situating the horizontal spall initiator at an elevation of the hard zone may involve providing an elevation control mechanism (e.g. buoyancy, mechanical, or hydrodynamic), or may involve a panel with a plurality of horizontal spell initiators at respective elevations. The horizontal spell initiator may be driven.

Abstract: A method for refurbishing an existing expandable host pipe. An expansion tool is adapted to generate isolated outward radial force when in expansion mode. The expansion tool is moved along a path inside the host pipe, stopping at stations on the way. At each station, responsive to isolated outward radial force from the expansion tool, the unobstructed interior diameter of the host pipe is increased via non-destructive plastic deformation of the interior wall. Once the entire host pipe is expanded in this fashion, a new rigid liner pipe is inserted inside the host pipe to operationally replace the host pipe. Grout is deployed in the annular space between liner pipe and host pipe. Expansion of the host pipe via non-destructive plastic deformation optimizes the refurbishment job and enables the original host pipe, as expanded, to contribute structurally to the refurbished pipe system.

Abstract: A resin injection apparatus 19 for use in connection with a drilling apparatus 10 for installing ground anchors. The resin injection apparatus 19 comprises a resin injector adaptor 20, adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a hollow drill shaft 21 of a drill rig 10. The resin injector adaptor 20 can be used to inject one or more resin fluids into the drill shaft 21 wherein, in use, when a hole has been drilled in a rock stratum, resin can be injected into the hole via the drill shaft prior to inserting a ground anchor.

Abstract: A barrier connector arrangement (20) for a multi-pipe pipeline (14) for use in a subsea environment, the pipeline (14) comprising at least one inner pipe (12) and an outer pipe (11) having a dry annulus (13) thereinbetween, and one or more cables (50, 51) extending along the annulus (13), the connector arrangement (20) comprising: an outer housing (21) configured to be joined to the outer pipe (11) to define a dry interior housing with the annulus (13); and one or more dry barrier chambers (26, 27) extending through and welded to the housing (21) for connecting one or more of the cables (50, 51) in the pipeline (14) with one or more external cables in the subsea environment.

Abstract: Alpine anchor for anchoring threaded rods in soil or rock, with a metal base plate having a number of threaded bores which are distributed about the circumference and into which the threaded rods can be screwed with an assembly machine, wherein at least one plug coupling is arranged between the stationary part and the base plate.

Abstract: An expansion apparatus for anchoring a downhole tool in a well is provided. The expansion apparatus has a wedge, an expansion wedge and a slip ring. The wedge and expansion wedge interact so as to radially expand wedge segments of the expansion wedge. The slip ring and expansion wedge interact so as to radially expand the slip ring to grippingly engage the wellbore or casing.

Abstract: A method for treating a volume of porous contaminated material is described. A combustible mixture (24) comprising a porous matrix and a distributed combustible contaminant is conveyed to a reaction vessel (12) having an ignition system (16). The ignition system is activated to initiate a smoldering combustion process in the reaction vessel and an oxidizer is distributed into the reaction vessel to sustain the smoldering combustion process. The porous matrix may comprise drill cuttings (324) with residual drilling fluid.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing system comprising a casing string disposed within a wellbore, a work string at least partially disposed within the casing string and having a wellbore servicing tool incorporated therein, wherein the wellbore servicing tool is selectively transitionable between a jetting configuration and a mixing configuration, wherein the wellbore servicing tool is configured to transition between the jetting configuration and the mixing configuration via contact between the wellbore servicing tool and the casing upon movement of the work string upwardly within the casing string, upon movement of the work string downwardly within the casing string, or by combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of installing a production buoy at a subsea anchoring location is disclosed. The method includes floating a production buoy over a subsea anchoring location. Then, hanging at least a tether off the production buoy such that the or each tether extends from the production buoy towards the subsea anchoring location occurs. The method includes submerging the production buoy to a depth which allows connection of the or each tether to the subsea anchoring location. An apparatus suitable for use with this method is also provided.

Abstract: A composite surface material comprising a permeable substrate and a permeable surface layer bonded to the substrate so that the material is permeable.