The present invention relates to an assembly for installing a pile (2) in a seabed (3), the assembly comprising a vessel (23) comprising a positioning system for keeping the vessel (23) at an installation location relative to the seabed, the positioning tem (5) having a positioning stiffness (7); a pile guiding system configured to guide the pile (2) during installation thereof, the pile guiding system comprising a base (9) provided on the vessel; a first guiding device connected to the base, the first guiding device being configured to accommodate the pile during installation thereof; a resilient member (11) for providing a resilient connection between the vessel (23) and the pile during installation thereof for allowing relative motions between the pile (2) and the vessel (23), the resilient member having a connection stiffness, wherein the resilient member (11) is configured and intended to keep a natural period of a pivoting movement of the pile about the seabed caused by waves during installation thereof longer than a dominant wave period of a wave spectrum at the installation location by providing the resilient connection with a low connection stiffness.

A suction anchor for a subsea well is provided. The suction anchor includes a wellhead support structure. The wellhead support structure is at least in part external of the internal volume of the suction anchor.

A suction anchor for a subsea well is provided. The suction anchor includes a wellhead support structure. The wellhead support structure is at least in part external of the internal volume of the suction anchor.

The present invention relates to a solution for a floating wind platform made of reinforced concrete for mass production, characterized by a geometric design providing a hydrostatic natural prestressing to the concrete, causing it to work under compression. The structural response of the platform for working in the most effective mode is improved, and the occurrence of fractures or cracks in the concrete is prevented, which reduces permeability and allows for reducing the rebar to be contained in the structure, also increasing operational safety. Furthermore, the invention has a system for anchoring the mooring lines to the structure in the form of a truss made of reinforced concrete which evenly distributes mooring stresses, minimizing prestressing in the high area of the platform, and increasing the area for distributing shear forces due to the change in section between the platform and the tower of the wind turbine. The geometric design furthermore confers the versatility of being able to adopt low draft SPAR, semi-submersible, barge, or buoy solutions, with the wind turbine being installed such that it is centered or off-center on the structure, thereby being adapted to different draft requirements or environmental and logistics conditions.

Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a magnetic-field-responsive matrix and magnetizable granules dispersed therein, and is magnetically fortified via application of a magnetic field (e.g., continuously applied where the matrix is magnetorheological fluid, or temporarily applied where the matrix is rheological fluid containing diamagnetic particles).

Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a magnetic-field-responsive matrix and magnetizable granules dispersed therein, and is magnetically fortified via application of a magnetic field (e.g., continuously applied where the matrix is magnetorheological fluid, or temporarily applied where the matrix is rheological fluid containing diamagnetic particles).

Provided is a support structure and a method for manufacture thereof. The support structure, in one aspect, includes first and second expanded metal structural pillars positioned within the ground by a distance (d.sub.1), the first and second expanded metal structural pillars comprising a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis. In at least one other aspect, the support structure includes one or more beams spanning the first and second expanded metal structural pillars.

This pile installation system for an offshore foundation construction includes a main body, a movable part and a first means for attaching the main body to a frame of reference. This frame of reference is configured to act as a counterweight. It further includes a second means for attaching the movable part to a pile to be installed, and the movable part may be moved, with respect to the main body, in translation about the direction of an insertion axis.

This pile installation system for an offshore foundation construction includes a main body, a movable part and a first means for attaching the main body to a frame of reference. This frame of reference is configured to act as a counterweight. It further includes a second means for attaching the movable part to a pile to be installed, and the movable part may be moved, with respect to the main body, in translation about the direction of an insertion axis.

A foundation for a subsea assembly is provided. The foundation includes connection points. The connection points permit other components to be connected to the foundation and permit loads to transfer from the other components into the foundation. The foundation may be a suction anchor. A method of converting an exploration well using the foundation to a production well is also provided.