Abstract: A process for planting a row of cement piles on the bed of a river includes the steps of (1) placing a vertical guide member of a U-shaped cross-section on the bed, the guide member including two parallel side plates having a width larger than that of the side surfaces of the piles, and a web interconnecting the side plates, the web having a vertical lower section and an inclined upper section; (2) sliding downward the first cement pile over the inner surface of the web until the first cement pile is planted on the bed; (3) inserting downward the second the cement pile into a space between the inclined upper section of the web and the first cement pile; (4) pushing downward the second cement pile, until the second cement pile is planted on the bed, with the result that the guide member is impelled by the second cement pile to move to a position which is in line with the first and second cement piles, and that a vertical coupler hole is defined between the tongues of the second cement pile and between the groo

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing mud from around and inside of a casing is shown and described. Examples of such casings include piles of offshore oil production platforms. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a submersible pump having a propeller and coupled to several nozzles is lowered to a position adjacent the mud to be removed. A volume of water is forced through the nozzles against the mud, the action of which, together with the propeller, serves to dilute and break up the mud. The submersible pump then forces the mud and water upward through a flexible tube to be discharged into open water.

Abstract: A device for lifting and hammering the foundation piles of offshore structures, consisting of a long support element having a length of the order of twenty meters, to be inserted into the foundation pile which is to be driven into the sea bed, said element being suspended from a crane and being provided at its lower end with an expansion-type gripping clamp and at its upper end with a hammering system comprising a striking weight or hammer slidable along said support element until a limit stop is reached. Preferred embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: A gravity pile for platform foundations is described which comprises a series of pile sections made from two concentric tubes the annular space between which is filled with an elevated specific weight composition such as mortar or hematite. Individual pile sections can be joined together by means of tubular connecting rings welded to the ends of the sections and welded or screwed to each other. The uppermost section of the pile may be provided by a tubular support ring provided with a peripheral load bearing flange for simple direct contact support of the template designed to receive the tethers of the platform. A process is also described for installing the pile in which the pile penetrates the sea bed under its own weight and penetration is then complements by conventional undersea pile driving or preferably by jetting the interior of the pile using the drilling string of the rig. Further weight may be provide by adding cement to the interior of the pile using the same drilling line.

Abstract: A method serves to mount the piles (6) associated with the installation of a pile-founded offshore platform, e,g, a production platform, wherein these are driven down into the sea bed through pile guides (12) attached to or forming part of the foundation (16) of the platform. A device for performing the method comprises at least one chute (15) which is preferably C- or U-shaped in cross section and which extends with a suitable inclination upwardly from the upper end (13) of a pile guide (12) to at any rate substantially in below the position which the pile tip (8) of a pile (6) to be placed in the pile guide (12) assumes in said freely hanging position of the pile (6). A conventional drilling rig may be used for installation of in particular smaller platforms, thus providing great savings in terms of economy and frequently also in terms of time.

Abstract: Offshore well drivepipe or caisson may be supported by a skeletal frame type supported having spaced apart caisson receiving guide sleeves and spaced apart sets of pile guide sleeves interconnected by lateral and diagonal brace members. The support may be totally submerged and sleeved over the caisson while resting on the seabed and secured thereto by conventional piles which are installed through the pile guide sleeves and driven to temporary or permanent depth. The support structure provides a low-cost, reusable, temporary or permanent support for well caissons or drivepipes.

Abstract: A cutter-coiler device that economically cuts and coils cylindrical piles, casings and conductor pipes to a depth below the surface of the sea floor. Although the device will cut and coil cylindrical piles, casings and conductor pipes above the sea floor, it is most effective for use where casings, conductors and piles must be cut, and pushed or coiled below the sea floor. Further, although the device is effective in cutting and coiling casings, conductors and piles that are cut below the sea floor, it is also effective on cutting and coiling cylindrical piles casings and conductor pipes that must be cut above the sea floor. The device includes a conventional pile driver or hammer, an anvil, a helmet, a spreader coiler, a coiler, cutter blades and a guide. The guide directs the cutter blades into the casing where the cutter blades cut the casing into sections and the spreader coiler pushes out on the sections causing the cut sections to flatten out and the coiler forces the section to roll up into a coil.

Abstract: The invention is a method for installing a piling of a predetermined target depth in the ground, particularly on the ocean floor. A pipe is lowered into the ground together with a drilling machine having rotatable cutters movable from a first position in which their transverse dimension is less the inner diameter of the pipe to a second position in which their transverse dimension is greater than the outer diameter of the pipe. The cutters are lowered to a location below the pipe, moved to the second position, and rotated to drill a hole having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. After the cutters are retracted and the drilling machine is raised back within the pipe, the pipe and drilling machine are lowered to the bottom of the hole. The steps are repeated until the total target depth is reached. The drilling machine is then removed and the anular space between the wall of the hole and the exterior surface of the pipe is filled with cement.

Abstract: For driving of ramming parts under water, a first ramming device is suspended on the supporting element and a second ramming device is suspended on a further supporting element, a submergible electrohydraulic drive unit is located laterally near or under one of the ramming device and connected with both ramming devices by hose conduits, the ramming devices with the drive unit are lowered so that at least one ramming device is placed on one ramming part and after driving it in over a predetermined path it is transferred to another ramming part, while the other ramming device drives further the first ramming part or a further ramming part, and both ramming devices are driven one after the other or simultaneously with one another by the same drive unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for driving tools into the ground, comprising a chassis in which is slidably mounted an anvil connected by a set of rods to said tool and a hammer sliding in said chassis to strike the anvil, which device further comprises an electro-magnet mounted to slide in said chassis and above said hammer, which is connected to an electrical source as well as to lifting means for gripping the hammer by magnetic attraction after it has dropped on the anvil and to lift the hammer to the upper part of the chassis in order automatically to allow it to drop again by gravity onto said anvil, and in which the hammer comprises in its part opposite the one which comes into contact with the anvil a permanent magnet to increase the force of attraction of the hammer against the electro-magnet, or to create a force of repulsion by change of polarity of the electro-magnet in order to promote separation of the electro-magnet and the hammer and to communicate an initial velocity to said ham

Abstract: For driving of ramming parts under water, a first ramming device is suspended on the supporting element and a second ramming device is suspended on a further supporting element, a submergible electrohydraulic drive unit is located laterally near or under one of the ramming device and connected with both ramming devices by hose conduits, the ramming devices with the drive unit are lowered so that at least one ramming device is placed on one ramming part and after driving it in over a predetermined path it is transferred to another ramming part, while the other ramming device drives further the first ramming part or a further ramming part, and both ramming devices are driven one after the other or simultaneously with one another by the same drive unit.

Abstract: A submergible electrohydraulic drive unit is a multi-purpose device for driving different underwater ramming and working devices and has a housing with a throughgoing central receiving space for a ramming pile or a respective ramming or working device, ring-shaped upper and lower supporting plates, an outer wall, an inner wall which forms the receiving space, and a plurality of pump units arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall and each having a hydraulic pump and an associated electric motor and individually or jointly limitedly movably spring-biased relative to the housing, one supporting plate having means for exchangeably mounting said device adjusted relative to said receiving space.

Abstract: A wellhead and conductor pipe supported by a cable and anchor system is disclosed which is comprised of a plurality of anchor cables secured to the conductor at a first end of each cable, the second end of each cable being fixed to an anchor pile in a surrounding land formation beneath a body of water. In preferred embodiments the cables are secured to the conductor by means of an annular brace having an upper collar portion to which the first end of each cable is attached and a lower collar portion having pulleys mounted thereon and around which the cables are journalled. Anchor piles are driven into the subsea land formation by releasably securing an anchor pile to a drive pile and exerting a downward force on the drive pile to drive the anchor pile into anchoring engagement with the formation below the mud line.

Abstract: For the installation of an anchor member at a location below a water level through a retaining wall into a soil formation for supporting the wall, a drill mount is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis on a retaining member secured to the wall. The drill mount can be pivoted between a drilling position inclined downwardly toward the wall and an upwardly extending loading position where the drill mount is accessible above the water level. A cable line secured to the drill mount pivots it between the drilling and loading positions. A drilling machine is displaceable on a sliding carriage along the drill mount. A drilling tool inserted into the drilling machine is used to drill an opening through the wall. Subsequently the drilling tool is replaced by a borehole pipe and the pipe is driven through the wall opening into the soil formation.

Abstract: Device for withdrawing a pile or the like which has been driven into the soil by a ram device which can perform blows downwardly and upwardly and which in upward direction has a lost-motion connection with the pile, which lost motion for efficient withdrawal is removed by the extension of hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: An improved, slow burning jet embedded anchor assembly for use in sedimentary strata and similarly nonconsolidated or rocky ocean bottom surfaces is shown. The anchor comprises an inertially loaded reaction member above a substantially elongated anchor shaft, coaxially positioned around an elongated drive tube assembly. The anchor shaft has a number of open cross-section triangular sheet metal anchoring fins, providing substantially low resistance to penetration within the strata, but providing substantially high resistance to sideways displacement forces, as would be imposed through a standard anchor rod. The anchor is positioned by lowering the inertial reaction unit and embedded by the weight of the inertial reaction unit a distance into the surface layer of the subocean strata. An internal detonator control assures vertical embedment unless the anchor is vertically positioned. The anchor is remotely fired after initial embedment.

Abstract: A pile assembly adapted for use in a compliant piled tower. A plurality of drive piles are driven into the ocean floor in a symetric array about a central, substantially vertical axis. A flex pile is secured to the upper end of each drive pile and extends upward to a preselected elevation above the ocean floor. The longitudinal axes of each drive pile flex pile pair are laterally offset from one another with the flex piles also being arranged in symetric array about the central axis. A tie member is provided to restrain the flex piles from lateral motion relative to one another. The tie member serves to balance the moments established by virtue of the eccentric axes of the flex pile drive pile pairs. The use of eccentric axes in the pile assemblies simplifies driving the drive piles, permits the drive piles to be placed relatively far from one another to minimize pile group effects and permits the flex pile to be designed without being constrained by driving considerations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anchor system which includes an anchor projectile section having an anchor body, beams pivotally connected at their lower end to the body and interconnected by flexible segments, a pressure storage or launching section having a launching tube in which the upper body of the projectile section is positioned for being launched therefrom, a drag plate secured around the launching section with substantial weight therein and sufficient diameter to create a large virtual water mass and hydrodynamic drag to resist upward movement of the launching section when the anchor projectile section is released for launching into the sea bottom, a remotely controlled collet connector securing the anchor projectile section within the launching section until the anchor is to be launched for setting in the bottom.

Abstract: A template levelling system includes a pile receptacle carried within the template receptacle mounted to the template. The pile receptacle has a lower flange that extends outwardly from and below the template receptacle. Slips are located in the pile receptacle for gripping the pile to prevent downward movement of the template. A hydraulic jack will grip the pile receptacle and pull the pile receptacle upwardly, causing the flange to contact the lower side of the template to lift the template. The pile receptacle is laterally movable in the template receptacle. A release sleeve can selectively release the slips to allow the pile receptacle to be lowered on the pile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a barbed anchor pile is described in which a pile, having horizontally placed barbs, is driven into the seafloor. Once it is buried to a predetermined depth, the barbs are spread outward into the surrounding soil to ensure that the pile will not be pulled out by uplift loads.

Abstract: A method of installing an offshore platform. The superstructure is assembled and completed in advance in a fabrication yard. The superstructure with a floating body attached thereto is transported to the area of the sea where a jacket of the platform has been erected by towing the superstructure while floating on the sea. It is made to sink by pouring sea water into the floating body and installed on the top portion of the jacket which is situated under the sea level. An extension is attached to the jacket in advance such as to project above the sea level during the piling operation and thereafter it is removed such that the top portion of the jacket is brought to a position below the sea level.

Abstract: A pile lowering and coupling assembly having a plurality of latching arms pivotally secured to a follower pile that latch onto an annular catch secured to the skirt pile. A bias applied to the latching arms maintains the engagement of the follower and skirt piles by continuously urging the latching against the annular catch. Once coupled, both piles are lowered to the sea bed after which the skirt pile may be driven by applying a hammer to the free end of the follower pile which usually extends above the water surface. Once driven, the skirt pile and the follower pile are separated by removing the bias applied to the latching arms thus enabling the follower pile and the lowering and coupling assembly to be retrieved from the sea depths.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a pre-installed pile attached to a pile guide connected to an offshore platform is supported in the pile and includes pile latch means rotatable from a latch position in which one end extends through an opening in the pile and engages the upper end of the pile guide to a retracted unlatched position in which the entire latch means is located within the pile. The inner end of the latch means is connected to a collapsible compression linkage assembly which when in one position maintains the latch means in its latch position and when moving from the one position to another collapsed position causes the latch means to rotate to its unlatched position within the pile. A slide plate capable of causing the linkage assembly to collapse when moving downwardly from a first position to a second position is releasably held in the first position by shearable means.

Abstract: A new pile assembly is disclosed. It comprises an open end pipe pile (a cylindrical pipe pile provided with a pile cap) that is provided with: (1) a diaphragm adapted to slide axially within said open end pipe pile; (2) a conduit that allows gases and liquids to flow to and from the upper portion of the interior of said open end pipe pile through a conduit port; and (3) a one-way valve that allows gases and liquids to flow from an inlet port (that is below said conduit port) in the interior of said open end pipe pile to an exhaust port on the exterior of said open end pipe pile. The preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises: (4) an open end pipe pile with a lower end of reduced interior diameter; (5) means for retaining drilling mud in the lower portion of said open end pipe pile; and (6) a flexible riser in the interior of said open end pipe pile that provides a passageway for liquids and gases from said inlet port to said one-way valve.

Abstract: A process involving the utilization of a clamp apparatus positioned around a pile to be driven into the seabed through the jacket leg and supported on the top end portion of the jacket leg itself. The apparatus involved in this process would comprise a pair of hemispherical sections hinged together at a common edge moveable between opened and closed positions opposite the hinged edge. There is further provided hydraulic means for effecting movement of the sections engaging or disengaging the piling. On the inner wall of each hemisphere there is further provided a plurality of protrusions, constructed of soft metal or the like, so that the outermost face of each protrusion engages the wall of the piling when the apparatus is in the closed position and engaged around the pile. The downward movement of the pile in the jacket leg is controlled by the loosening or tightening of the clamp apparatus by use of the hydraulic means attached thereto.

Abstract: A development and production facility for an offshore oil or gas field is constructed and drilling of wells is performed using a jack-up drilling platform in an improved manner. The facility is composed of a development well platform and a production platform, each of which is composed of a modular prefabricated unitary deck assembly of substantially turn-key completeness and of a prefabricated jacket or leg assembly to which the deck assembly is matable. Crane or derrick barges are used only to position the deck assemblies on the leg or jacket assemblies after the latter assemblies have been placed erect on and secured to the sea floor by use of the jack-up platform. The development well platform is constructed first so that drilling of development wells can be performed from the jack-up platform through the former platform concurrently with the placement and completion of the production platform.

Abstract: The vibrational output of a sonic oscillator is coupled to a compliant member which may comprise a steel stem member. The frequency of the oscillator is adjusted so as to effect resonant standing wave vibration of the compliant member. The resonant vibratory energy is coupled from the compliant member to the pile or other object to be driven by means of a coupler clamp which provides limited bidirectional freedom of motion along the axis of the pile. The coupler clamp further has a guide member which may comprise a partial skirt which controls the angular orientation between the pile and the compliant resonator member. This keeps the sonic energy concentrated along the axis of the pile and prevents significant lateral vibrational modes in the pile. The oscillator resonator member and pile are suspended from an appropriate structure, such as a boom, such that the downward bias weight at the coupler clamp can be controlled. In view of the limited freedom of motion provided in the coupler clamp, i.e.

Abstract: A system for levelling a template adjacent the floor of a body of water comprising a plurality of gripping assemblies pivotally coupled to the template and receiving the supporting piles therein, with portions of the piles extending above the template; and a jacking assembly capable of being lowered down each of the piles, releasably connected to the template adjacent the associated gripping assembly and raising or lowering the template in the area of each pile to level the template. The jacking assembly comprises an outer housing, and a double acting hydraulic piston slidably received in the housing, with a pile gripping assembly being coupled to the piston. The gripping assembly in the jacking assembly and those in the template are each formed from a plurality of ring segments that are serrated on the inside and have tapered ribs on the outside, these segments being received in a bowl having corresponding tapered ribs.

Abstract: A jack usable for leveling a marine platform jacket by lifting a tubular leg or pile guide relative to a pile extending upwardly therethrough includes a gripping unit having slips which engage and grip the pile and which in a predetermined elevated condition of the tubular member are engaged by that member and urged axially thereby in a grip tightening direction acting to positively lock the gripping unit against movement either upwardly or downwardly relative to the pile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pile-driving apparatus, particularly for under-water use. The pile driver basically comprises a linear induction motor having a tubular stator including a plurality of axially spaced stator coils. The slider or armature of the motor comprises the pile to be driven.

Abstract: A method and assembly for temporarily isolating an area within a waterway preparatory to dredging in order to prevent disturbed sediment from spreading throughout said waterway. A plurality of spaced support column assemblies are lowered from a barge outer hull into soil forming a periphery of the area to be dredged. A separate side panel member is then lowered between each pair of support columns and water is then removed from an area completely encircled by the side panel members and support column assemblies before the area is dredged. After dredging operations are completed within the area, water is then reintroduced into the area and the side panels and support columns are withdrawn.

Abstract: A temporary rig of the jack-up type for oil and gas exploration. The rig is towed to a selected site where the legs are lowered to the ocean floor and the deck is raised out of the water. Piles are then pushed into the ocean floor by a series of extensions of hydraulic jacks to anchor the legs. The piles can be pulled up by contracting the jacks in a similar manner so that the rig can be moved to a new location. The jacking mechanisms move within pile guides that form parts of the legs.

Abstract: The hammer of an underwater pile driving apparatus is movable upwards and downwards in a housing which, in operation, is filled with a liquid which is present both above and below the hammer, the hammer being driven at least on the upwards direction by a driving liquid which is pressurized by a motor driven pump located on or adjacent the housing and which is the same as the liquid in which the hammer moves.

Abstract: A jacking mechanism for leveling a marine platform and a jacket supporting the platform by elevating a tubular leg or member of the platform relative to a pile extending through that member, with the jacking mechanism including a first gripping unit adapted to extend about and releasably grip the tubular member, a second gripping unit adapted to extend about and releasably grip the pile at a location beyond the tubular member and at a diameter smaller than the diameter at which the first gripping unit engages the tubular member, and power actuated means for moving the two gripping units axially relative to one another to cause the desired relative displacement of the leg and pile.

Abstract: An underwater pile driver assembly that includes a vertically disposed tubular housing that may slidably engage the upper end portion of a pile, with the housing having an upper open end, and the housing supporting an anvil that may be placed in abutting contact with the pile. An impact imparting ram is slidably and sealingly mounted in the housing, and may be successively raised to a first position therein. Pump means are provided to successively evacuate water from the interior of the housing between the ram and anvil. After each evacuation the ram is released to be forced downwardly by the hydrostatic head imposed on the upper surface thereof to impact the anvil, with the force imparted to the anvil being transverse to the pile to drive the latter downwardly. The greater the distance of the upper end of the housing from the surface of the water, the greater will be the magnitude of the downward force exerted on the pile each time the ram impacts the anvil.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting pipe suspended over depressions in the sea bed and method of, comprising a service modular unit capable of being completely recovered and another modular unit intended for properly supporting the pipe: the two modular units are so connected that they can be disjointed under a command from the pipe-laying barge.The service modular unit is equipped with a recoverable assembly for placing the supporting modular unit in a correct vertical posture on the sea bed and for vertically holding such supporting modular until the pile-driving operation has been satisfactory completed.

Abstract: A method for setting piles at an offshore location is disclosed in the preferred and illustrated embodiment. A preferred apparatus is also disclosed. A pile formed of individual segments is placed inside a jacket at a location offshore. The first pile segment is supported by releasable hangers inside the jacket, and the two are floated together as a unit to the location. The jacket is aligned with the desired point on the bottom at a desired angle to enable pile driving to commence through the jacket. As the pile is driven into the bottom, additional sections of the pile are added to thereby increase its length. This enables the pile to be completed to any length and angle required for its construction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a support system and method which permits the self-driving supporting columns after the structure has been fully assembled in place and which utilizes the gravitational force acting on this structure to achieve self-driving of the columns in a predetermined direction (e.g., vertically). In this manner, pile driving, predrilling deepholes or preparation of concrete footings can be avoided. The support system of the present invention is also provided with means for resisting movement of the columns out of alignment with the predetermined direction as they are self-driven into the substrate and means for maintaining the structure in a predetermined elevation (e.g., horizontal) as the columns are driven. The system can also include many means for maintaining the structure at a predetermined height relative to the substrate over which it is supported.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a tubular element to the bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of lowering the tubular element from the watersurface to the waterbottom, removably securing the pumping unit to the tubular element either before or after the lowering of the tubular element, closing the tubular element at the upper end, reducing the pressure within the tubular element by operating the pumping unit, so as to cause the tubular element to penetrate into the waterbottom to a desired depth. Subsequently, the operation of the pumping unit is stopped and the pumping unit is disconnected from the tubular element and raised to the watersurface to recover it.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving and increasing the load bearing strength of an electrically conductive pile driven into soil having water above the soil. The top of the pile is insulated on the outside, but the bottom is uninsulated. The pile is driven into the water and soil until the insulator is below the bottom of the water thereby insulating the pile from the water. The anode of an electrical circuit having an anode, a d-c power source, and at least one cathode, is connected to the pile with the cathode placed in the soil. Current is directed from the anode to the cathode through the soil drying out the soil about the uninsulated portion of the pile for reducing the water content of the soil adjacent the uninsulated portion and increasing the load bearing strength of the soil. The length of the uninsulated pipe is at least as great as the length of the insulated pipe and the length of the insulator is substantially the same as the length of the pile above the soil.

Abstract: A mudmat and mudmat removal procedure used in combination with an offshore marine structure for supporting said structure on a soft, unconsolidated seafloor during installation of said structure to the seafloor.

Abstract: An Angulating Knuckle Lead installed within an offshore pile driving rig having both upper and lower hydraulically actuated supporting kickers, independently operable for driving pile on extreme slope or batter and which is movable upwardly and downwardly through an opening in the upper deck of the rig toward the lower deck.

Abstract: A method of directing water by electro-osmosis to an electrically conductive pile for driving or pulling the pile into or from soil having water above the soil. When the pile is in contact with the soil directing a direct current downwardly to a plurality of locations surrounding the pile and to the pile for increasing the water content of the soil adjacent the pile while preventing the flow of electricity to the pile through the water. The method comprehends placing an anode having a plurality of surfaces into the soil, placing the pile within the plurality of surfaces of the anode and into the soil, insulating the surfaces of the anode from the pile above the soil for preventing electricity flowing between the anode surfaces and the pile through the water but allowing electricity to flow between anode surfaces and the pile through the soil, and directing d-c current from the anode surfaces through the soil for increasing the water content of the soil adjacent the pile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a retropulsive force on a body upon which forces act which try to displace said body. More in particular the invention deals with holding upright an enlongated body such as a pile when in unstable equilibrium or by returning a floating body to its position of origin. The unstable pile is held upright by a weight guided in the pile and supported from a cable guided on the pile at a distance above the weight. The floating body is held in position by a weight guided on a stable pile and supported by cables which are connected with the body and run through guides at the upper end of the pile.

Abstract: A system for placing piles into the seafloor by using pressure differential as the driving force. The pressure differential is created by a pump unit located either within or external to the pile. Operation of the pump unit which displaces both water and soil across a bulkhead section, enables the pile to be driven into and under the seafloor. A section of piling with a pump unit can operate as an uplift anchor, and multiple pumps on a large diameter piling can be embedded into the seafloor as a large foundation.

Abstract: Members, such as piles for off-shore oil and gas well platforms, are driven into the ground by the extension of a hydraulic jacking cylinder. The cylinder is held in position within a working tower in which the uppermost pile section is contained. Electro-osmosis may be used to reduce soil friction. Successive pile sections are brought into position by securing them to a horizontal loading door of the working tower and then raising the door pivotally. The section is then suspended within the working tower and aligned with the prececing section by an internal alignment tool prior to welding.

Abstract: Piles are driven underwater by feeding them through spaced apart, aligned, tubular guides mounted on a structure to be anchored by the piles. When the piles reach the sea bed an elongated follower is fed down through the guide sleeves to the top of the piles. A compressible fluid driven hammer is arranged to drive against the upper end of the follower which in turn drives the pile. The submerged depth of the hammer at the upper end of the follower is less than it would be at the top of the pile and accordingly the exhaust pressure at the hammer is minimized and the hammer effectiveness is enhanced.

Abstract: A method of assisting the driving of a hollow electrically conductive pile into soil containing water by electro-osmosis in which the pile is insulated on the outside with an electrical non-conductor. An electrical circuit having a d-c power source, an anode, and a cathode is provided in which the anode is placed in the water outside of the hollow pile and the cathode is attached to the electrically conductive pile. When the pile is in contact with the soil, electrical power is applied to the circuit whereby water will be caused to move from the anode down the outside of the pile through the soil adjacent the pile and towards the cathode making the pile easier to drive through the soil. In addition, after the pile has been driven, the current is reversed through the electrical circuit for reducing the water content of the soil inside the pile and increasing the load bearing strength of the soil.

Abstract: A scissored sea-floor well template for positioning spacing of subsea wells or piling in the sea floor. Two arms, each having a pontoon template at each end thereof, are pivotally connected. The two arms are rotated about the pivot to a closed position for transportation to the marine site at which they are to be used. Inasmuch as the template is provided with pontoons, it can be towed and does not have to be loaded on a barge although it could be. Upon reaching the well site the arms are opened so that the pontoon templates assume the desired shape. The arms are then locked in this extended position and the scissor well template is then lowered to the ocean floor.

Abstract: An underwater hammer, of the gas discharge type, is provided with a surrounding casing arranged in the nature of a diving bell from which liquid can be purged so that the hammer ram may move up and down with minimum resistance. A reflood tube extends down through the upper end of the casing and opens into an axial reflood passageway in the ram and liquid is pumped through this tube to obtain reflooding after each cycle of operation.