A method of making asphalt concrete mixtures including reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Variability in the fraction of binder that occurs in RAP that is able to melt and mix with virgin binder included in the concrete mixture previously made it difficult to select an appropriate amount of virgin binder. Methods described herein permit an asphalt concrete mix designer to determine the amount of virgin binder that can be combined with RAP and virgin aggregate in order to satisfy the minimum effective binder content of a job mix formula for such a concrete mix. The subject matter described herein thus permits more efficient use of RAP and permits use of RAP in higher amounts in asphalt concrete mixtures.

A system for blending cement and at least one additive during a blending job to create a cement slurry for use in an underground hydrocarbon well includes a mixing tub, at least first and second blenders and a rotatable platform upon which the blenders are mounted. Each blender includes at least one elongated, rotatable, mixing blade extending into the tub to mix the cement and at the additive(s) to form the cement slurry.

An extruder includes a receptacle for containing material to be extruded. The extruder further includes a dispersion blade positioned within the receptacle and a nozzle secured to the receptacle. The nozzle defines a first opening positioned within an interior of the receptacle, defines a second opening positioned outside of the receptacle and defines a channel which extends from the first opening through the nozzle to the second opening defining a flow path which extends from the first opening, through the channel and to the second opening. The nozzle extends through a wall of the receptacle and into the interior of the receptacle such that the first opening is positioned spaced apart from the wall.

An extruder includes a receptacle for containing material to be extruded. The extruder further includes a dispersion blade positioned within the receptacle and a nozzle secured to the receptacle. The nozzle defines a first opening positioned within an interior of the receptacle, defines a second opening positioned outside of the receptacle and defines a channel which extends from the first opening through the nozzle to the second opening defining a flow path which extends from the first opening, through the channel and to the second opening. The nozzle extends through a wall of the receptacle and into the interior of the receptacle such that the first opening is positioned spaced apart from the wall.

A process and system are provided for preparing seed mixes having a target quantity and a target ratio of different types of seeds. The process generally includes portioning quantities of different types of seeds from bulk supplies of the seeds, and combining the portioned quantities of seeds to prepare the seed mixes. The system generally includes first and second dispensing assemblies for portioning the quantities of the different types of seeds from the bulk supplies, and a mixing assembly for receiving the portioned quantities of seeds as the seed mixes. The combined quantities of the different types of seeds in the seed mixes are substantially equal to the target quantity, and a ratio of the quantities of the different types of seeds is substantially equal to the target ratio.

A waterborne facility on a body of water includes a primary spoolable pipe and a pump. The end of the primary spoolable pipe may be guided from the waterborne facility to a location proximate to a selected site. The pump may be used to discharge a flowable material through the primary spoolable pipe. The waterborne facility may include a ready-mix concrete preparation system. However, the waterborne facility may deliver any flowable material to a selected site, which may be a land surface, underground, on a water surface, or underwater. Illustrative flowable materials include seawater, grout, cement, and sediment/mud.

Disclosed herein is an artificial stone comprised of a first waste plastic material and a second waste plastic material, wherein the first and/or second waste plastic material is a non-recyclable or a recyclable plastic material. A method of manufacturing the artificial stone is also disclosed. The artificial stone may be used, for example, as an aggregate in a concrete mix or as a filler on a road laying base or sub-base.

A multi-leg discharge boot can include an inlet conduit and first and second outlet conduits separated by a junction portion. The inlet conduit includes an entry segment, a transition segment and a heel portion disposed therebetween. The inlet conduit can include an inlet end and a junction end. A junction portion is disposed at the junction end of the inlet conduit between first and second junction openings. The junction portion includes a substantially planar wall region that is substantially perpendicular to a main flow discharge axis.

A multi-leg discharge boot can include an inlet conduit and first and second outlet conduits separated by a junction portion. The inlet conduit includes an entry segment, a transition segment and a heel portion disposed therebetween. The inlet conduit can include an inlet end and a junction end. A junction portion is disposed at the junction end of the inlet conduit between first and second junction openings. The junction portion includes a substantially planar wall region that is substantially perpendicular to a main flow discharge axis.

The invention provides methods and compositions for treating wash water from concrete production with carbon dioxide. The treated wash water can be reused as mix water in fresh batches of concrete.