A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable.

Replacement drainage structures and methods for replacing drainage structures are disclosed. An example method includes driving a plurality of sections of a replacement drainage structure around a buried drainage structure to be replaced. At least a portion of the drainage structure to be replaced is positioned within the interior of a section of the replacement drainage structure. Portions of the drainage structure to be replaced are removed.

A kinetic penetrator includes a tubular body having a first end and a second end, a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, the nose configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume, a retrieval system including a tether, a collector coupled to at least one of the nose and the tubular body, and a sample compartment configured to interface with the collector. The sample compartment is releasably coupled to at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector, and the tether is coupled to the sample compartment and is configured to facilitate removal thereof from the subterranean ground volume.

Offshore system for delivering geotechnical tools to seafloor is described. The system includes a carrier tube that includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the carrier tube is characterized by an outer diameter and an inner diameter and wherein the inner diameter of the carrier tube defines a hydraulic cylinder; a landing sub shaped or installed at or near the upper end of the carrier tube, wherein inner diameter of the landing sub is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier tube; a drill bit shaped or installed at or near the lower end of the carrier tube; an extension tube extending upward from the upper end of the carrier tube; an upward seal that seals top portion of the extension tubes; a compression system for introducing compressed fluid under the upward seal; a fixed rod that runs through the hydraulic cylinder; a hydraulic piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic piston is moveable along the fixed rod; one or more shear pins configured to restrict displacement of the hydraulic piston until a sufficient fluid pressure is built up; and an inner tube disposed between the carrier tube and the hydraulic piston, wherein lower portion of the inner tube includes a cone penetrometer that is ballistically inserted into the soil during downward displacement of the hydraulic piston.

A retrievable kinetic penetrator includes a tubular body having a first end and a second end, a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, and a retrieval system. The nose is configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume. The retrieval system includes a tether coupled to the tubular body and is configured to facilitate recovery of the tubular body from the subterranean ground volume.

Offshore system for delivering geotechnical tools to seafloor is described. The system includes a carrier tube that includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the carrier tube is characterized by an outer diameter and an inner diameter and wherein the inner diameter of the carrier tube defines a hydraulic cylinder; a landing sub shaped or installed at or near the upper end of the carrier tube, wherein inner diameter of the landing sub is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier tube; a drill bit shaped or installed at or near the lower end of the carrier tube; an extension tube extending upward from the upper end of the carrier tube; an upward seal that seals top portion of the extension tubes; a compression system for introducing compressed fluid under the upward seal; a fixed rod that runs through the hydraulic cylinder; a hydraulic piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic piston is moveable along the fixed rod; one or more shear pins configured to restrict displacement of the hydraulic piston until a sufficient fluid pressure is built up; and an inner tube disposed between the carrier tube and the hydraulic piston, wherein lower portion of the inner tube includes a cone penetrometer that is ballistically inserted into the soil during downward displacement of the hydraulic piston.

A rotary drill bit for use with a horizontal directional drill string. A coupler at a proximal axial end is configured to attach the rotary drill bit to a drill head at a distal end of the drill string. A cutting portion at a distal axial end is provided with a plurality of vanes with respective cutters that operate to cut a hole in earth when the rotary drill bit is rotated about a central axis. The plurality of vanes project radially outwardly from a surface of the cutting portion such that the surface forms respective troughs circumferentially interspersed with the plurality of vanes. A plurality of engagement features is positioned axially within the cutting portion and radially inward of an outer cutting diameter to facilitate attachment of a product pullback device between the plurality of vanes without removing the rotary drill bit, or any portion thereof, from the drill head.

Lining pipes (103) are routinely pulled through HDD boreholes from one end. As HDD borehole distances get longer, the total amount of friction experienced by the pipe will increase and therefore greater forces/stresses are applied to the pipes (103). For a given material and diameter of pipe (103), conventionally, the only way to handle these stresses is to increase the wall thickness of the pipe (103). The present invention provides at least one gripping device (201) on a line (107), movable through the interior of a pipe (103), and configured to grip an interior of the pipe (103). In this way, the gripping device (201) may be used to grip a pipe (103) at a point spaced from an end thereof, thereby reducing tensile forces on the pipe.

A pullback device for connection with a rotary drill bit of a horizontal directional drill string. The pullback device includes an anchoring portion and a plurality of arms with ends configured to engage a plurality of corresponding engagement features of the rotary drill bit.

A high-pressure burrowing everting robot includes a tubular body formed of a high-pressure skin and airtight bladder arranged to permit pressure to evert the high-pressure skin and bladder together such that the high-pressure skin forms an outer surface of the robot when everted. A sensor is arranged at a distal tip and/or on the outer surface of the high-pressure skin.