A hybrid crane/rig mat that has outer side members of first and second side beams or boards of engineered lumber, oak or other hardwoods, or bumper members of solid or filled or unfilled hollow plastic members; a core structure of a metal or thermosetting plastic frame that includes side and end members and that contains therein a plurality of longitudinal members made of wood, engineered lumber, or of plastic or elastomeric materials; and a plurality of joining rods that pass through the outer side members, the core structure and longitudinal members to attach the outer side members to the core structure. The first end of the mat includes a male member and the second end of the mat includes a female member so that a first end of one mat can be releasably interlocked with a second end of a similarly configured and adjacently positioned additional mat.

A deicing system may include one or more walkway cassettes, a temperature control element, and a control unit. Each walkway cassette may include a casing and a heat tracing; cable in good thermal contact with the casing. The temperature control element may include a comparatively smaller casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing, and may exhibit similar heat loss characteristics to the walkway cassettes. The temperature control element may include a temperature sensor on a top surface of its casing, which may generate temperature data and send the temperature data to the control unit. The control unit may provide power to the temperature control element and the walkway cassette(s) in parallel based on the temperature data. The temperature control element may be placed in proximity to the walkway cassette(s), and may be exposed to substantially the same environmental conditions as the walkway cassettes.

Self-supporting equipotential grounding grates are used to create an equipotential zone for workers and equipment. The grates have a plurality of supports that cooperate to position the upper surface of a conductive grid above the surface on which the grates are used. The inner supports include upper and lower structural grids that allow debris to be readily removed from the grate after use. The grate supports workers and equipment. A plurality of the grates are electrically connected with cables to define a platform with the entire structure grounded with one or more grounding pins.

Self-supporting equipotential grounding grates are used to create an equipotential zone for workers and equipment. The grates have a plurality of supports that cooperate to position the upper surface of a conductive grid above the surface on which the grates are used. The inner supports include upper and lower structural grids that allow debris to be readily removed from the grate after use. The grate supports workers and equipment. A plurality of the grates are electrically connected with cables to define a platform with the entire structure grounded with one or more grounding pins.

A vehicle support structure, which in petroleum wellsite operations is commonly called a rig mat or a ground stabilizing mat, includes: a main body including an upper surface, an underside, a front end and a rear end, the main body defining a planar structuring with a thickness; a front pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the front end; a rear pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the rear end, the front pad and the rear pad each configured to be moveable between a supporting position protruding from the underside of the main body and a retracted position in plane or retracted from the underside; a front pad drive mechanism for the front pad, the front pad drive mechanism configured to drive the front pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the front pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body; and a rear pad drive mechanism for the rear pad, the rear pad drive mechanism configured to drive the rear pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the rear pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body, the front pad and the rear pad being configured to operate to support the main body in an elevated position relative to a ground surface and configured to move the main body forward and backwards and side to side relative to the front pad and the rear pad and over the ground surface. In use as a rig mat, a method for well site operations includes: placing the rig mat at a position on a first well site; positioning a rig on the rig mat; and adjusting the position of the rig mat while the rig remains supported on the rig mat such that the rig is centered on a wellhead of the well site.

A traction device for enhancing vehicular traction, aiding in the extraction of vehicles stuck in challenging terrains such as mud, snow, or ice. The device has a rectangular mesh configuration, comprised of longitudinal chains and lateral chains. The device further includes a plurality of parallel lateral chains extending across the longitudinal chains for providing support to the device. A plurality of pegs and pins are used for securing the device to a terrain in which the vehicle is stuck. A handle of the device touches the front tire and another handle touches the rear tire. The traction device has a length from about 90% to about 100% of the vehicle's wheelbase, and the mesh width, ranges from 6 to 24 inches, to accommodate various tire widths.

An inventory of industrial mats having different core or internal constructions that are not visible because of the inclusion of side, end, upper and lower components which hide the core or internal construction from view, wherein each mat has an electronic device that indicates what is present in the hidden core or internal construction of the mat, with the electronic device including a processor, storage, and wireless communications circuitry that is configured to transmit identification, location, usage or physical property information of the mats over a wireless telecommunications network. Also, a method for providing an identification of mat properties or usage for an inventory of mats by viewing the information stored on the electronic device or by retrieving over a wireless telecommunications network identification, location, usage or physical property information of the mats from the storage of the electronic device.

A method of supporting an upright member from a support surface includes inserting an elongated carrier of an upright member support system into a hole in the support surface. A base of the support system is positioned at least partially around the carrier so the base contacts at least one upper surface of the support surface. A lock of the support system is releasably engaged with the carrier above the base and tightened down sufficient to maintain the base in contact with the support surface. The upright member is inserted into a bore of the carrier.

A hybrid crane/rig mat that has outer side members of first and second side beams or boards of engineered lumber, oak or other hardwoods, or bumper members of solid or filled or unfilled hollow plastic members; a core structure of a metal or thermosetting plastic frame that includes side and end members and that contains therein a plurality of longitudinal members made of wood, engineered lumber, or of plastic or elastomeric materials; and a plurality of joining rods that pass through the outer side members, the core structure and longitudinal members to attach the outer side members to the core structure. The first end of the mat includes a male member and the second end of the mat includes a female member so that a first end of one mat can be releasably interlocked with a second end of a similarly configured and adjacently positioned additional mat.

A timber access mat having an electrical grounding feature includes an electrically conductive cover layer that is removably carried over the top of the body of the timber access mat. The electrically conductive cover layer can be formed from one or more sheets of expanded metal such as expanded steel. The layer is joined to a perimeter frame that includes offset connector tabs that allow mats to be positioned side-by-side. The connector tabs are paired with cable guides to protect the cable leads that connect the mats. The perimeter frame and conductive cover layer can be added to traditional timber access mats when electrical grounding is required and then removed and stored when not required.