Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

A method and fixturing apparatus for manufacturing a suction caisson foundation includes providing an elevated center support and peripheral supports, elevating the foundation's prefabricated thumb section atop the center support, and temporarily securing radial frame members about the circumference of the prefabricated thumb section with the each frame member resting atop a respective peripheral support. The skirt panels are then affixed to the frame members, and the frame members to the prefabricated thumb section to thereby become self-supporting. The center support is removed from the interior of the resulting bucket, as by raising the peripheral supports to unload the center support, and lowering and dismantling the center support, whereupon additional panels are affixed to the frame members to define the foundation's lid, and further shaft sections added atop the prefabricated thumb section to complete the foundation. Temporary beams bridging preselected framing members advantageously allow use of transportation crawlers.

A method and fixturing apparatus for manufacturing a suction caisson foundation includes providing an elevated center support and peripheral supports, elevating the foundation's prefabricated thumb section atop the center support, and temporarily securing radial frame members about the circumference of the prefabricated thumb section with the each frame member resting atop a respective peripheral support. The skirt panels are then affixed to the frame members, and the frame members to the prefabricated thumb section to thereby become self-supporting. The center support is removed from the interior of the resulting bucket, as by raising the peripheral supports to unload the center support, and lowering and dismantling the center support, whereupon additional panels are affixed to the frame members to define the foundation's lid, and further shaft sections added atop the prefabricated thumb section to complete the foundation. Temporary beams bridging preselected framing members advantageously allow use of transportation crawlers.

This application discloses a new type of suction leg, an offshore caisson, a sit-on-bottom supporting platform. The suction leg includes a sealing long pile, this sealing long pile including a tubular pipe and a top head connected tightly to the tubular pipe to form cylindrical integral structure with sealing top and opening bottom. The top head has at least one opening to be able to open or close. The sealing long pile can be penetrated into the seabed by a gravity penetration method or/and a suction pile penetration method, or pulled out from the seabed by a buoyancy uplift method or/and a suction pile uplift method.

This application discloses a new type of suction leg, an offshore caisson, a sit-on-bottom supporting platform. The suction leg includes a sealing long pile, this sealing long pile including a tubular pipe and a top head connected tightly to the tubular pipe to form cylindrical integral structure with sealing top and opening bottom. The top head has at least one opening to be able to open or close. The sealing long pile can be penetrated into the seabed by a gravity penetration method or/and a suction pile penetration method, or pulled out from the seabed by a buoyancy uplift method or/and a suction pile uplift method.

A steel plate and concrete composite tank unit, tank groups and offshore platforms with new type of tank units are disclosed. The tank unit comprises an outer concrete tank that comprises an outer tank shell, two heads and ring shell connections at both ends, an inner steel tank that comprises an inner tank shell, epitaxial structures at both ends of the inner steel tank. Inner tank shell is connected to the outer tank shell by epitaxial structures, and an isolation layer that is formed from the gap between the outer concrete tank and the inner steel tank where it is filled with isolation medium.

A steel plate and concrete composite tank unit, tank groups and offshore platforms with new type of tank units are disclosed. The tank unit comprises an outer concrete tank that comprises an outer tank shell, two heads and ring shell connections at both ends, an inner steel tank that comprises an inner tank shell, epitaxial structures at both ends of the inner steel tank. Inner tank shell is connected to the outer tank shell by epitaxial structures, and an isolation layer that is formed from the gap between the outer concrete tank and the inner steel tank where it is filled with isolation medium.

An aggregate pier compacting system for forming a compacted aggregate pier (AP) at a target location includes a mandrel, a tamper device, and a finishing tamper device. The mandrel includes a casing for housing a drilling shaft (DS). An external vibratory hammer (EVH) repeatedly impacts a hammer element (HE) extending from the DS. The DS transfers the impact to a bore head to form a cavity at the target location. The DS is removed and the casing is filled with aggregate. The tamper device includes a compacting shaft. The EVH impacts a second HE extending from the compacting shaft and transfers the impact to a compaction head to form the compacted AP. The finishing tamper device includes a shaft. The EVH impacts a third HE extending from the shaft and transfers the impact to a finishing head compacting a top layer of the AP to form a finished AP.

An aggregate pier compacting system for forming a compacted aggregate pier (AP) at a target location includes a mandrel, a tamper device, and a finishing tamper device. The mandrel includes a casing for housing a drilling shaft (DS). An external vibratory hammer (EVH) repeatedly impacts a hammer element (HE) extending from the DS. The DS transfers the impact to a bore head to form a cavity at the target location. The DS is removed and the casing is filled with aggregate. The tamper device includes a compacting shaft. The EVH impacts a second HE extending from the compacting shaft and transfers the impact to a compaction head to form the compacted AP. The finishing tamper device includes a shaft. The EVH impacts a third HE extending from the shaft and transfers the impact to a finishing head compacting a top layer of the AP to form a finished AP.

Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.