Abstract: A pipeline ballast has at least two sacks adapted to straddle a pipeline. Permeable sacks filled with inert high density aggregate such as barite uses less dry weight of aggregate to restrain buoyancy. Preferably a top sack and two pairs of side sacks connected to either side of the top sack, which when cinched, conform to the pipeline. Preferably each side sack is a pair of sacks which are flexibly hinged for more efficient loading onto the pipeline and for better conforming to the pipeline when cinched. Preferably a one piece cinching strap has two loops spaced thereon hook and loop type fasteners at the loose ends for securing together once cinched. The cinching strap is wrapped about the pipeline ballast and the lifting loops are positioned low on either side of the pipeline and lifted tangentially away from each other before the loose ends of the strap are secured to each other.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for separating coarse and ultrafine solids from a liquid stream to produce a substantially dry solids discharge and a clarified liquid. Apparatus is provided comprising a combination of a settling tank, a plurality of filter screens spaced along an endless link-chain conveyor, a screen vibrator and directed air streams. In operation, coarse solids settle preferentially to the tank bottom. Ultrafines solids remain in suspension. Relatively coarse filter screens are conveyed from a point outside the tank to traverse a prolonged path through the liquid. Ultrafine solids are captured on the screens, by filtering the liquid through an ever finer build-up of filter cake. The relatively large number of passes of the screens through the liquid provides effective filtering of suspended solids. Further, the screens dredge settled solids from the tank bottom.