Abstract: Jet grouting involves injecting grout into geological material to improve its quality; however, use of jet grouting is limited to situations in which the injection systems can be positioned relatively close to the region to be improved. This can be impractical (for example in heavily built up areas, rough terrain or beneath the seabed) or inconvenient (for example where closing a tunnel would be required). The present invention enables deployment equipment 41 to be passed down a bore in order to deploy material and/or equipment through a hole in the lining of a bore 43 into the underlying geology. In this way, underground assets may be repaired from a location external to the asset, allowing repair in situations where it would be impossible or cost-prohibitive to do so with conventional ground treatment techniques.

Abstract: Lining pipes (103) are routinely pulled through HDD boreholes from one end. As HDD borehole distances get longer, the total amount of friction experienced by the pipe will increase and therefore greater forces/stresses are applied to the pipes (103). For a given material and diameter of pipe (103), conventionally, the only way to handle these stresses is to increase the wall thickness of the pipe (103). The present invention provides at least one gripping device (201) on a line (107), movable through the interior of a pipe (103), and configured to grip an interior of the pipe (103). In this way, the gripping device (201) may be used to grip a pipe (103) at a point spaced from an end thereof, thereby reducing tensile forces on the pipe.

Abstract: It is known to deploy robots within pipes in order to carry out investigations for damage, and potentially effect repairs. Such robots may be self-propelled, but in some applications they are controlled via a connected line, conveying electrical or optical signals along a cable, and/or pneumatic or hydraulic pressure via a hose. However, there exist numerous drawbacks with these systems. The present invention provides a drone for use within a pipe 71, the drone comprising: a plurality of wheels 5 configured to enable movement of the drone along a pipe; a payload bay configured to retaining a payload 15 therein; and a wireless communication device configured to enable communication therewith. In this way, the drone may be remotely operated by a user while down a pipe 71, without the need for cumbersome communication cabling.

Abstract: An integrated drilling and injection device, comprising: a longitudinal shank 7 having an internal passage extending from an open first end of the shank 7 along an axis of the shank 7 toward a second end of the shank; a drill bit 3 located at a second end of the shank 7 opposite the first end; and at least one outlet 9 in fluid communication between the internal passage and an exterior surface of the shank 7. In this way, the device may be driven into a substrate and then fluid may be injected into the substrate by passing along the internal passage and through the at least one outlet 9, without first having to remove the device and replace it with a separate injection component.

Abstract: Jet grouting involves injecting grout into geological material to improve its quality; however, use of jet grouting is limited to situations in which the injection systems can be positioned relatively close to the region to be improved. This can be impractical (for example in heavily built up areas, rough terrain or beneath the seabed) or inconvenient (for example where closing a tunnel would be required). The present invention enables deployment equipment 41 to be passed down a bore in order to deploy material and/or equipment through a hole in the lining of a bore 43 into the underlying geology. In this way, underground assets may be repaired from a location external to the asset, allowing repair in situations where it would be impossible or cost-prohibitive to do so with conventional ground treatment techniques.

Abstract: Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are known that comprise a large metal cylindrical shield fronted by a rotating cutting wheel and containing a chamber where the excavated soil is deposited (and optionally mixed with slurry for extraction, depending on the type of geological/soil conditions). However, TBMs have various disadvantages including the stop-start nature of their tunnelling, and that a single TBM cannot easily transition between different rock/soil types (especially heavily fractured and sheared rock layers). The invention provides a tunnelling shield provided with jet grouting tools arranged to project from a leading edge thereof. In this way, the quality of the geological material into which the tunnel is being excavated may be improved dynamically as part of the excavation process.