Abstract: A cofferdam is disclosed that includes an open frame structure having double walls defining a hollow space within each double wall, with each double wall having an open bottom end and a closed top end. Each of the double walls are configured to act as suction piles allowing liquid to be removed from the space within each double wall to thereby induce negative pressure when the cofferdam is installed in a sub-sea configuration. Each of the double walls may include a plurality of partitions respectively defining a plurality of suction piles, the suction piles fluidically coupled by a manifold that may allow liquid to be removed from the suction pile to thereby drive the cofferdam structure into the subsea surface due to the induced negative pressure. A further embodiment cofferdam structure includes an open frame structure and one or more suction piles attached to the open frame structure.

Abstract: A cofferdam is disclosed that includes an open frame structure having double walls defining a hollow space within each double wall, with each double wall having an open bottom end and a closed top end. Each of the double walls are configured to act as suction piles allowing liquid to be removed from the space within each double wall to thereby induce negative pressure when the cofferdam is installed in a sub-sea configuration. Each of the double walls may include a plurality of partitions respectively defining a plurality of suction piles, the suction piles fluidically coupled by a manifold that may allow liquid to be removed from the suction pile to thereby drive the cofferdam structure into the subsea surface due to the induced negative pressure. A further embodiment cofferdam structure includes an open frame structure and one or more suction piles attached to the open frame structure.

Abstract: A system and method to excavate using a pneumatic shock wave includes a supply of pressurized fluid, a suction wand, and an air line in communication with the supply of pressurized fluid. A portion of the air line is integrated within the suction wand. The system also includes a dump valve interposed between the supply of pressurized fluid and the portion of the air line integrated within the suction wand. The dump valve is configured to rapidly discharge a pulse of the pressurized fluid out an open end of the air line to generate a shock wave at a distal end of the suction wand to fracture and dislodge soil so that the suction wand can excavate the soil.

Abstract: A method of laying underwater pipelines in the bed of a body of water, the method including laying an underwater pipeline along a given path on the bed of the body of water; breaking up a ground mass along the path to a given depth in the bed; and fluidifying the broken ground mass beneath the underwater pipeline to sink the underwater pipeline into the fluidified ground mass.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for recovering oil from a submerged oil source, wherein the system includes a submerged conduit having at least two openings, with a first opening capable of being located in proximity of a leak in order to capture leaking oil, and with a second opening capable of communicating captured leaking oil to another location. A natural gas separator, coupled to the submerged conduit separates the boiling vapor phase natural gas from the captured oil thereby outputting oil with water contaminant. An oil/water separator coupled to the natural gas separator then separates out the contaminant water, resulting in a processed recovered oil product for storage and subsequent refinement. The flow to capture the leak is induced by generating a lower pressure at nozzle in the conduit via power jet, air lift, pumping of fluid out of conduit close to sea level, or other methods.

Abstract: Material is pneumatically excavated and removed by discharging air under pressure from an excavation nozzle at supersonic speeds in a forward direction for excavating the material, and simultaneously discharging air under pressure from an evacuation nozzle also at supersonic speeds in a rearward direction at an adjacent position rearward of the point of forward discharge for assisting the removal of the excavated material in a rearward direction. The evacuation nozzle is in the form of a continuous annular air stream that is maintained concentric with the excavation nozzle. The nozzles are sized to provide maximum excavation and removal efficiency in co-relation to the PSI and the CFM output capabilities of the selected air source and the nozzles are positioned sufficiently close to each other whereby dynamic flow coupling is established between the nozzles such that material digging and removal performance and efficiency are maximized.

Abstract: A non-motorized apparatus for collecting particulate materials, including gold, in stream placer deposits, comprising a first tubular member, a second tubular member, a third tubular member with perforated ridges, a skirt for enveloping the tubular members, and a fibrous matting disposed over the third tubular member. The third tubular member with the fibrous matting is held entirely inside the second tubular member. The second tubular member is connected to one end of the first tubular member in a way to have high velocity stream flowing into the first tubular member, creating a suction pressure in the second tubular member. The particulate matter settles in grooves formed by the ridges in the third tubular member and passes through the perforations to be trapped in the fibrous matting as the stream is sucked into the second tubular member.

Abstract: Subsea excavation and suction device includes a suction head with an inlet opening at an outer, free end and an outlet opening connected to a suction hose arranged at a distance from the inlet opening. The suction head is mounted on a hydraulic controller arm and at the inlet opening is provided with mechanical and hydraulic devices to disintegrate solid material (sediment). The hydraulic device includes a number of jet nozzles, while the mechanical device includes bars. The cross-sectional area of the inlet opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for soil excavation having a vacuum hose, a vacuum holding tank and at least one air lance and/or water jet, in which a soil beneficiating agent is introduced into the soil during one or more of the steps of the vacuum excavation process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting plant growth from waterways to promote fluid passage through such waterway. Water under high pressure is forced through a nozzle orifice to cut, chop and/or pulverize the aquatic plant matter. The nozzle is on a spray-head assembly of the apparatus, which is positioned above or in the waterway by the boom of a vehicle such as, for example, a crane or backhoe. As the transport machinery and apparatus are advanced in the waterway, a path is cut through aquatic plant matter by the high pressure water from the nozzle, and, as a result, the waterway may be effectively cleared. In the preferred apparatus and method, wherein the nozzle directs the water vertically into the waterway, a steel plate may be submerged beneath the level of the nozzle and above the soil surface to protect the soil from disruption and erosion.

Abstract: An excavation system comprises a bucket, defining an outlet at its base, in fluid communication with a suction tube in fluid communication with a jet pump, configured to create a suction in the suction tube. A related method of excavating comprises loading excavation material into a bucket which defines an outlet at its base, sizing the excavation material by sieving action of a guard substantially covering the bucket outlet, and suctioning the sized material though the bucket outlet using a vacuum created by a jet pump.

Abstract: A hand-held wand is disclosed for exposing buried objects such as utility lines or the like. The wand comprises an elongated, hollow tube having upper and lower ends with first and second water supply conduits being positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the tube. The lower end of the first water supply conduit has a digging nozzle mounted thereon. The lower end of the second water supply conduit extends upwardly into the lower end of the tube to create a vacuum or suction within the lower end of the hollow tube to remove muddy water from the hole being dug. A two-way valve is connected to the upper ends of the first and second water supply lines for alternately delivering water to the water supply conduits. The intake side of the two-way valve is in fluid communication with a source of high pressure water. The upper end of the hollow tube has a mud take-off hose connected thereto which may be utilized to convey the muddy water to a location remote from the hole being dug or to a container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mining of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing clathrate such as is found on the ocean floor. The hydrocarbon containing clathrate is disaggregated from sediment by first disrupting clathrate-containing strata using continuous mining means such as a rotary tilling drum, a fluid injector, or a drill. The clathrate-rich portion of sediment thus disrupted from the sea floor strata are carried through the apparatus to regions of relative lower pressure and/or relative higher temperature where the clathrate further dissociates into component hydrocarbons and water. The hydrocarbon is recovered with the assistance of a gas that is injected and buoys the hydrocarbon containing clathrate helping it to rise to regions of lower pressure and temperature where hydrocarbon is released. The sediment separated from the hydrocarbon returns to the ocean floor.

Abstract: There is provided an improved apparatus for recovery of sea-bed material. Known apparatus suffer from problems such as low recovery rate and capital cost. The invention, therefore, provides a recovery apparatus comprising a vehicle upon which are mounted a duct permitting communication between the sea-bed and a location remote therefrom, structure to introduce sea-bed material into the duct and structure to advance sea-bed material through the duct.

Abstract: An ocean plow device and accompanying method which incorporate a passive plow blade and a jetter tool working in conjunction with one another to lower drawbar and increase cable deployment speeds. In order to avoid cavitation due to sand dilation, in one embodiment of the plow device, the jetter tool includes nozzles oriented in a downward and backward direction relative to the plow device which creates a flow pattern to turbulently remove surface soil in front of the jetter tool in a rapid manner. The jetter tool is pivotally suspended from a point in front of the passive plow blade, such that the jetter will be free to find its own equilibrium position. That is, the pivotal mounting enables the jetter tool to rotate upward in harder soils and become fully extended in softer soils in order to reach the equilibrium position. The passive plow blade behind the jetter tool provides a constant burial depth for the cable and also provides protection from side loads encountered during deployment.

Abstract: A suction, or vacuum, is created by the coupling of two sections of tubing of dissimilar size. The larger section of tubing has an open ended reservoir attached to one end thereof. The smaller section of tubing has an end plate attached at a point approximately one third of its length. The longer portion of the smaller section of tubing is inserted into the larger tube until the end plate mated to the reservoir. A fluid medium such as water or air is pumped into the reservoir under high pressure filling the reservoir and encompassing the inner section of tubing. The space between the smaller section of tubing and the larger section of tubing is fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The application of the pressurized fluid medium from the reservoir to the space between the sections of tubing creates a low pressure within the inner tubing resulting in a vacuum or suction being effected at the intake of the inner tubing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for relocating sedimentary materials particularly from the bottom of water channels. The invention utilizes a water jet fluidizer to displace sedimentary materials and to suspend them in a water flow. The water flow containing the suspended, dispersed sedimentary material is contained within a shaped duct means and re-directed as a uni-directional flow, so that re-deposition of the displaced sediments is controlled. The apparatus includes a manifold having parallel water jets spaced apart in a transverse direction along it; a parallelogram linkage for controlling the position of the manifold; a hose for supplying water under pressure to the manifold; and a duct means arranged opposite the manifold for directing the flow of dislodged sedimentary material in suspension. The apparatus preferably is supported on wheels and is controlled by the linkage from a boat. In shallow water, the device may be supported on a hand controlled trolley.

Abstract: Dredging apparatus (10) is provided with a flow conduit (18), a first pump (28), a second pump (30), and two valves (34, 44). The flow conduit (18) comprises a first leg (20) extending downwardly to a lower portion (22) and a second leg (24) extending upwardly from the lower portion (22). A fluidizing nozzle (32) is carried by the first leg (20). An intake aperture (26) is provided on the lower portion (22) and is directed downwardly. The dredging apparatus (10) may be used to dredge up material when the material is in a water suspension (48), and to probe through material by scattering material. The valves (34, 44) are operated to switch the apparatus between various modes of operation and to increase the effectiveness of the apparatus.