Abstract: A system and method prevent product-type contamination in a bulk liquid storage tank. A control unit receives an indication of a storage product type in the bulk storage and a delivery product type in the tanker truck. The control unit compares the delivery product type with the storage product type and controls delivery based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A subsea installation tool for installing a flexible body, e.g. a subsea fiber cable on a seabed from a surface vessel, and an associated method for installing the flexible body on the seabed is provided. The installation tool includes a tensioner that may be coupled to the flexible body to actively pull it down, thus increasing tension in an upper section of the cable from the installation vessel to the installation tool. High tension in the upper part of the cable gives good control even in strong sea currents. At the same time the tensioner enables lower tension in the bottom part cable from the installation tool to the seabed, giving good control of the touchdown position on the seabed.

Abstract: A system for seafloor mining comprising a vertical riser anchored to the seafloor; a mining machine to deliver seafloor ore to the vertical riser; a lifting system to pass the ore through the vertical riser; and a transport vessel removably connected to the vertical riser to receive ore from the vertical riser.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure.

Abstract: A truss lifting process and apparatus for coupling a lifting truss to a load to be lifted especially for lifting a large prefabricated concrete panel in the making of a dual panel truss having a pair of spaced apart concrete panels. A lifting truss has a plurality of spaced hydraulic cylinders hanging therefrom with each hydraulic cylinder having a grappling hook attached thereto for attaching to an attachment member on an object to be lifted. The plurality of hydraulic cylinders are actuated simultaneously to pull each coupled grappling hook and attachment member taut and then locked for the lifting truss to lift the attached object.

Abstract: An apparatus for seafloor stockpiling that has a slurry inlet that receives slurry from a seafloor tool via a slurry transfer pipe and walls that, together with the seafloor, define a cavity having a stockpiling volume. The walls are made substantially of a water permeable material, such as a filter fabric or geotextile, that captures and contains seafloor material present in slurry received from the slurry inlet, while permitting egress of water from the slurry. In a preferred form the seafloor stockpiling device is a hood with an open bottom that is located on a seafloor surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for mining alluvial gold deposits. The methods can comprise collecting feed from alluvium and washing the feed at high pressure. The feed can be separated into a plurality of separate fractions. At least one fraction is transferred to a metal sensor system using a conveyer, wherein when gold is detected in a piece of the fraction, an air blast can be targeted and delivered at the piece, with the air blast diverting the piece to a receiving container.

Abstract: A fishing dredge provides a mount for an underwater camera and a shuttle for relieving the pressure on the camera. Conventional fishing dredges include no dedicated means to attach an underwater camera. The fishing dredge herein described adds a hydrodynamic shuttle and a build in mount for an underwater camera, such as a Gopro®, to mount in the center of the fishing dredge. A keel weight can be added to the bottom of the shuttle to keep it from spinning during use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a velocity and concentration adjustable coupling pipe apparatus equipped between a lifting pipe and a collector. The apparatus includes a coupling pipe having a lower inlet and an upper outlet which are different in diameter from each other. A seawater inlet pipe passes through a side surface of the coupling pipe to permit inflow of seawater. A slurry flow control valve is provided in the coupling pipe to control the inflow of slurry. A seawater flow control valve is provided in the seawater inlet pipe to control the inflow of the seawater. A first sensor measures concentration of slurry discharged through the upper outlet. A second sensor measures velocity of the discharged slurry. A third sensor measures velocity of slurry introduced into the lower inlet. A control panel controls the opening ratio of each of the slurry and seawater flow control valves.

Abstract: An apparatus to gather and relocate benthic life and life supporting material for use in combination with a seabed or aquatic bed dredger, plough, mole or other seabed disturbing apparatus comprising a means of gathering the benthic life and life supporting material in, on or above the seabed in front of and in the path of the draghead or said seabed disturbing apparatus, thereby preventing entrainment or damage to the benthic life, and a means of releasing the benthic organisms and life supporting material via a directional exit duct, away from the work area.

Abstract: Applicants have created a method and system of deep sea mining comprising mining SMS deposits from the sea floor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper and pumping the solids from the jumper up a riser to a surface vessel. Further, applicants have created a method of deploying a deep sea mining system, comprising stacking a riser hangoff structure on top of a subsea pump module forming an assembly; picking up the assembly by a hanging mechanism, hanging the assembly on a moon pool, attaching a first riser joint; disconnecting the riser hangoff structure from the assembly; and attaching at least one second riser joint to form the riser.

Abstract: Applicants have created a method and system of deep sea mining comprising mining SMS deposits from the sea floor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper and pumping the solids from the jumper up a riser to a surface vessel. Further, applicants have created a method of deploying a deep sea mining system, comprising stacking a riser hangoff structure on top of a subsea pump module forming an assembly; picking up the assembly by a hanging mechanism, hanging the assembly on a moon pool, attaching a first riser joint; disconnecting the riser hangoff structure from the assembly; and attaching at least one second riser joint to form the riser.

Abstract: The assembly comprises a frame-truss subassembly, to which are attached an internal subassembly for directing a flow of encountered water during dragging and a subassembly for collecting and discharging shellfish. An external subassembly is used for encasing the frame-truss subassembly together with the internal subassembly and the subassembly for collecting and discharging shellfish. The frame-truss subassembly includes a pair of lateral trusses, spaced at a distance commensurable with a width of the assembly. The internal subassembly includes an anterior panel with a forwards oriented concavity and a posterior panel with a backwards oriented concavity. The subassembly for collecting and discharging, disposed behind the internal subassembly includes a louver platform, a grid receptacle supported by the platform and a mechanism for topple over the grid receptacle. At least two sets of a multiplicity of hinged flaps are used.

Abstract: Applicants have created a method and system of deep sea mining comprising mining SMS deposits from the sea floor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper and pumping the solids from the jumper up a riser to a surface vessel. Further, applicants have created a method of deploying a deep sea mining system, comprising stacking a riser hangoff structure on top of a subsea pump module forming an assembly; picking up the assembly by a hanging mechanism, hanging the assembly on a moon pool, attaching a first riser joint; disconnecting the riser hangoff structure from the assembly; and attaching at least one second riser joint to form the riser.

Abstract: A system for treating sediments contaminated with organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) includes treating the sediments with ozone to react the contaminants. The system is particularly effective for remediation of PCBs. In an in-situ system for remediating sediments in underwater sediment beds that are contaminated with (PCBs) and other contaminants, the contaminated sediments are treated with ozone with an ozonator conveyed over the sediment bed to mix the sediment with the ozone. The ozone reacts with the PCBs to form more reactive and biodegradable products. The treated sediment is then redeposited upon the sediment bed.

Abstract: An aquatic weeding device is provided for removing aquatic vegetation from a body of water and transporting the vegetation to a desired location. The weeder includes at least one weeding element connected with respect to a vessel for collecting aquatic vegetation, an extendable and retractable weed transporter positioned on the vessel for transporting the cut vegetation to a desired location, and a weed transferor positioned on the vessel for transferring the collected vegetation from the weeding element to the weed transporter.

Abstract: An aquatic weeding device is provided for removing aquatic vegetation from a body of water and transporting the vegetation to a desired location. The weeder includes at least one weeding element connected with respect to a vessel for collecting aquatic vegetation, an extendable and retractable weed transporter positioned on the vessel for transporting the cut vegetation to a desired location, and a weed transferor positioned on the vessel for transferring the collected vegetation from the weeding element to the weed transporter.

Abstract: A method for extracting and grading or sizing sand, gravel or a mixture thereof, from a pit formed in untouched ground. Liquid is sprayed into the ground, resulting in a fluidized state in the ground, in which state sand or gravel with a relatively high relative density and/or relatively large dimensions moves downwards, and sand or gravel material with a relatively low relative density and/or relatively small dimensions moves upwards. Thus a pit is formed in the ground which contains fluidized sand or gravel, in such a manner that a layered state is obtained. The layer of sand or gravel with a specific relative density and/or size is sucked out, while the remaining fluidized material remains behind in order to stabilize the wall of the pit. The material which has been sucked out is fed to a grading device or sizing device.

Abstract: A system for transporting material recovered in a dredging operation performed by a dredge is disclosed. The system includes a water-borne material distribution vessel including a conveyor system for receiving and depositing the recovered material. It also includes at least one water-borne material transportation vessel for transporting recovered material from the dredge to the material distribution vessel. The water-borne material distribution vessel can deposit the material into the waterway to form an island (which may be a levy), into another water-borne vessel, or into an on-shore station such as a wheeled transportation vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for sea urchins picking or the like from a water-filed area and collecting the urchins into a collecting member without damaging the same. The device includes an operable picking member for intaking and conveying an urchin-water mixture via a piping system into the collecting member, a draining system for draining water of the mixture from the collecting member and a pumping member for ensuring flow of the mixture within the picking member, piping system and collecting member, and of the water through the draining system.

Abstract: A sluice comprising a series of sequential, interconnected chutes, each inverting a stratified slurry, discharges the slurry in each chute over a mesh screen in a subsequent chute and eventually out of the sluice, with each incremental stage designed to treat smaller matter. An array of cones is disposed on each chute bottom over which the slurry passes, each cone in the array having an opening oriented downwater and including a ridge over-hanging its opening also oriented downwater, such that heavy matter settling from the mineral matrix is drawn into the cone. Below the cone array is a perforated mat. Also below the array, beginning at the minor's moss mat and extending downwater, is a textured mat, typically with upstanding ribs transverse to the chute water flow that also tends to capture settling material.

Abstract: A portable gold mining dredge for use in collecting potentially gold containing aggregate from streambeds for subsequent classification and separation. The dredge has a receptacle, comprised of a drum with a water-tight lid, for receiving the aqueous dredged aggregate. The receptacle is of a size suitable for carrying. A self-priming pump having an inlet port and an outlet port is attached to the receptacle. A dip tube extends into the receptacle, the outer end of the dip tube being connected to the inlet port of the pump by a conduit. A suction tube communicates with the interior of the receptacle. Hoses are connected to the inlet of the suction tube and to the outlet port of the pump. During operation the suction hose is used to suck up aqueous aggregate from a streambed and the discharge hose is used to wash aggregate from cracks and crevices in rocks.

Abstract: A dragline apparatus for cleaning waste material and sludge in clarifier and settling ponds and lagoons includes a pair of side walls and a back wall forming a frame supported on front and rear flotation rollers. Between the home member is at least one blade, pivotally mounted for swinging movement from an active to an inactive position. Cables are connected to the front and rear of the frame and to prime movers on the banks of a pond to be cleaned.

Abstract: A self-propelled machine has an internal chamber having a conveyor mechanism extending through an opening in a wall. A buoyancy control allows admission of pressurized air into the chamber to allow adjustment of the buoyancy of the machine. A series of conveyors within the chamber convey material into the chamber which is washed to leave behind sediment and other materials. Washed nodules are conveyed to a transport machine and are stacked in the transport machine. The transport machine may be disconnected from the self-propelled machine to allow nodules to be brought to the surface. Sensors are provided in the self-propelled machine to control attitude, direction, and movement.

Abstract: Heavy media, which are heavier than the bulk density of nodules of raw deepsea mineral resources, are used to discharge the nodules on a marine ship through a lifting pipe from a sea floor U-tube connecting with a downstream pipe laid to the deepsea bottom, by operating a piston pump on the marine ship. The heavy media are fed through the downstream pipe, and when nodules mined at the deepsea floor, mainly manganese nodules and cobalt-rich crusts which contain useful heavy metal, are fed into the sea floor U-tube through feeding devices, the nodules are continuously lifted with the heavy media through the lifting pipe from the sea floor to the marine ship, by buoyant force yielding from the heavy medium. This method requires much smaller power consumption than any conventional method of lifting nodules.