William H. Stone
Engineering at Indian Crk Rd, Houston, TX

4212562, Jul 15, 1980

Jul 31, 1978

5/929389

William B. Stone - Houston TX
Marvin L. Holbert - Gretna LA

Lynes, Inc. - Houston TX

E02D 2100, E02D 2704

405195

A method and apparatus are disclosed for leveling a relatively massive template structure which is positionable on the ocean bottom in proximity to one or more sites of subterranean wells. Since the template is primarily utilized to mount or guide later applied drilling, completion or production equipment, it is essential that the template be positioned on its fixing piles in a precise horizontally level position. Accordingly, a plurality of sleeves are secured to the template which respectively loosely encircle the hollow fixing piles. Hydraulically operated clamp means are provided to lock the encircling sleeves at any selected vertical position to a respective fixing pile. A hydraulic elevating mechanism is lowered into the top open end of at least one such fixing pile and utilized to effect the lifting of the sleeve and adjacent portion of the template to which the sleeve is secured to a height approximating the desired level position. The lifting movements may be performed successively or simultaneously on each of the fixing piles so that the template is gradually brought into a precise level position as indicated by bubble or other level indicators mounted on or associated with the template, and the clamp means are permanently locked in their clamping position.

4041718, Aug 16, 1977

Mar 24, 1976

5/670064

William Bundy Stone - Houston TX

Deep Sea Grouting Packers, Inc. - Gretna LA

E02D 552, F16J 1540

61 86

In a sealing device for sealing the gap between a tubular leg or a tubular piling can and a pile passing therethrough for supporting a permanent platform at sea, which sealing device comprises a first part in the form of an annular sealing element and a second part, through which the pile can pass, in the form of an annular protective guard for the sealing element, both parts being coaxial with the leg or can, the guard, before a seal is made with the pile, lying between the sealing element and the pile, there being means provided which, in use, enable such relative movement in an axial direction between the guard and the sealing element, that the guard no longer protects the sealing element which is thus free to make sealing contact between the pile and the leg or can, the provision of a plurality of support members pivotally connected adjacent the sealing element, the support members lying between the sealing element and the guard before a seal is made with the pile such that, when relative axial movement takes place between the guard and the sealing element so that the guard no longer protects the sealing element, the support members are released and are free to pivot so as to contact the pile and support the sealing element against excessive deformation or rupture under pressure.