GB2096674A - Remote grouting system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the remote grouting of anchors for floating platforms. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a tool string and grouting system which may be manipulated from the surface of the water without the use of divers. The method of the present invention comprises manipulating the tool string and grouting system to remotely grout the pilings to the anchors.

Description

SPECIFICATION Remote grouting system This invention relates to an improved grouting system for marine structures. More specificaily, this invention relates to an improved remote grouting system for offshore platforms installed in deep waters where the offshore platform is anchored in position utilizing cables running from the bottom of the platform to anchor pads on the sea floor.

A floating platform suitable for use as a floating drilling platform, production platform or other moored floating system having a plurality of anchors and a plurality of mooring lines connecting each anchor to the floating platform are suggested in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,154,039, 3,648,638, 3,780,685 and 3,919,957. Typically, such floating platforms utilize anchors comprising structures utilizing either include ballasting and deballasting means or piling which is secured to the structure and floor of the body in which the platform is located by cementitious materials, usually referred to as grout.

As floating platforms having anchors comprising structures utilizing piling, are installed in greater water depths it has become necessary to device apparatus and methods which would allow the remote placement of the cementitious materials, grouts, securing the anchors in position.

We have now devised a method and apparatus system for remote grouting of an annulus between a pile sleeve and a pile therein.

According to the invention, there is provided a grouting system for a marine structure for remotely grouting the annulus between a pile sleeve of said marine structure and a pile driven therethrough, said system comprising: remote grouting string means including: pipe means; remote video camera means secured to the pipe means; orientation jet assembly means secured to the pipe means; and stinger assembly means installed on one end of the remote grouting string means; and grouting system means including: at least one sleeve means which releasably receives a portion of the stinger means therein; and flow line means interconnecting the sleeve means with at least one said annulus between a pile sleeve and a pile driven therethrough.

The invention also provides a method of remotely grouting the annulus between a submerged pile sleeve of a marine structure, the sleeve having a pile driven therethrough, and an inflatable packer means installed thereon, the marine structure having at least one sleeve means in communication with the annulus via flow line means therebetween, the flpw line means including check valve means and flow control valve means installed therein, and having dummy sleeve means, the method comprising the steps of: lowering a remote grouting string means from the surface of the body of water; inserting the remote grouting string means into the sleeve means; and pumping cementitious grouting material through the remote grouting string into the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough of the marine structure.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment thereof with preferred components will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a view of a typical floating platform moored to a plurality of anchor pads; FIGURE 2 is a top view of one embodiment of grouting system utilized to remotely grout the piling to the anchor pad; FIGURE 3 is a view of one form of tool string utilized to remotely grout the piling to the anchor pad; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the embodiment of grouting system utilized to remotely grout the piling to the anchor pad; FIGURE 5 is a side view of a portion of the grouting system utilized to remotely grout the piling to the anchor pad; FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a one form of check valve utilized in the grouting system;; FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of one form of pressure control valve utilized in the grouting system; and FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of one form of check valve utilized in the grouting system.

The floating structure 10 shown in Figure 1 is a drilling platform but may be a production platform or any other moored floating structure. The floating structure 10 includes the deck 12 which may be of any suitable shape, such as rectangular.

The deck 12 supports the derrick 1 4. The legs 22 depend below the corners of the deck 12 and are connected near their lower ends by the horizontal members 24. The assembly of the components of the deck, derrick, legs and horizontal members is hereinafter referred to as the floating platform 28.

In addition to the floating platform 28 the floating structure 10 also includes anchor pads 30.

The floating platform 28 is moored from the anchor pads 30 by means of vertical mooring lines 32. The mooring lines 32 are connected to the anchor pads 30 and run through the legs 22 of the floating structure 28 to suitable guides and winches (not shown) which maintain tension on the mooring lines 32.

Referring to Figure 2, the remote grouting system 100 utilized to grout the annuls between the pile 34 and pile sleeve 36 of the anchor pad 30 is shown. The anchor pad 30 which may be of any shape is secured to the floor of the body of water in which the floating structure 28 is moored by having a plurality of piles 34 installed in pile sleeves 36 driven or drilled into the floor and the annulus between the pile sleeves 36 and piles 34 filled with cementitious material commonly referred to as grout or grouting material.

Secured to the anchor pad 30 is the remote grouting system 100 utilized to direct the flow of grout to the various pile sleeves 36 to fill the annular space between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34.

The grouting system 100 secured to the anchor pad 30 comprises a plurality of sleeves 102 arranged in a desired geometric pattern and interconnected by structural members 104 and a dummy sleeve 106 located in a desired position away from the sleeves 102. The sleeves 102 may be arranged in any desired geometric pattern located at any position along the anchor pad 30.

The grouting system 100 may also be detachably secured to the anchor pad 30, if so desired, to allow the removal of the grouting system 100 from the anchor pad 30 after the completion of the grouting process.

As shown, the grouting system 100 contains a sleeve 102 which is interconnected via flow lines 108 to a pile sleeve 36.

Referring to Figure 3, the remote grouting string 50 utilized in grouting the annulus between the piles 34 and pile sleeves 36 of the anchor pad 30 is shown. The remote grouting string 50 is suspended from a derrick barge 40 having a cantilevered work platform 42 secured thereto by means of a suitable hydraulic pipe snubbing unit 44 which allows manipulation of the string 50 from the barge 40. The hydraulic pipe snubbing unit may be of any suitable material such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,215,203 and 4,085,796.

The remote grouting string 50 comprises suitable piping 52 having a remote video camera 54 attached or secured thereto which is interconnected by cable means 55 to video receiver 56 on the deck of the derrick barge 40, having an orientation jet assembly 58 secured thereto which is interconnected to suitable pumping source 60 on the deck of the derrick barge 40 by conduit means 59 to supply fluid under pressure to the orientation jet head assembly 58, having suitable safety joint means 62 secured to the end of the pipe string 52, having suitable slip joint means 64 secured to the safety joint means 62 and having suitable stinger assembly means 66 secured to the suitable slip joint means 64 which engages the sleeves 102 of the remote grouting system 100. The stinger assembly means 66 includes contractable collet assembly means 70 thereon and end portion 68.

The safety joint means 62 may be of any suitable type, such as those described on page 3461 of the Halliburton Sales and Service Catalog Number 40. The safety joint means 62 is utilized to provide a means to separate the remote grouting string 50 should the stinger assembly means 66 become stuck or fast in a sleeve 102 of the remote grouting system 100. If the stinger assembly means 66 where to become stuck or fast in a sleeve 102, the remote grouting string 50 can be manipulated so that the safety joint means 62 would separate thereby allowing retrieval of that portion of the remote grouting string 50 located above the safety joint means 62.

The slip joint means 64 may be of any suitable type such as described on pages 3465 and 3466 of Halliburton Sales and Service Catalog Number 40. The slip joint means 64 is utilized to compensate for the up and down movement of the derrick barge 40.

Referring to Figure 4, the remote grouting system 100 is shown interconnected with a pile sleeve 36 of the anchor pad 30. The pile sleeve 36 includes an inflatable grout seal 38, such as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,468,132, 4,024,723 and 4,052,861, to seal the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34 driven therethrough before the grouting thereof.

The pile sleeve 36 and inflatable grout seal 38 are connected to a sleeve 102 by means of flow lines 108, 108' and 180". Flow lines 108 and 1 08' connects the sleeve 102 to the inflatable grout seal 38 while the other flow lines 108 and 108" connects the sleeve 102 to the interior of the pile sleeve 34. It should be noted that it is preferred each sleeve 102 only have flow wines 108, 108' and 108" connected to one pile sleeve 36, although each sleeve 102 could be interconnected with a plurality of pile sleeves 36.

Each sleeve 102 comprises a cylindrical housing having a flared upper end to assist in guiding remote grouting string 50 thereinto, having a closed lower end 112, having conical guide 114 therein having, in turn, bore 116 therein, having sliding sleeve valve means 11 8 therein which receives the end portion 68 of the stinger assembly means 66 and is actuated thereby, having locking ring 120 which releasably engages collet assembly means 66 of the stinger assembly means 66 to releasably retain the remote grouting string 50 in the sleeve 102 during grouting operations and having interior portion 122 below the sliding sleeve valve means 11 8 which has, in turn, flow line 108 communicating therewith.

The sliding sleeve valve means 118 may be of any suitable type, such as a sliding sleeve valve assembly from an EZ DRILLS SV packer as described on page 3471 of Halliburton Services Sales and Service Catalog Number 40.

Alternatively, any suitable type valve means may be utilized for sliding sleeve valve means 11 8, such as a spring loaded back pressure valve.

In addition to sleeves 102 which are utilized to grout the annulus between pile sleeves 36 and piles 34 therein the remote grouting system 100 includes dummy sleeve 106. The dummy sleeve 106 comprises a cylindrical housing having flared upper end 110, having conical guide means 114 therein having, in turn, bore 11 6 therein, having open bottom end 1 24 in communication with the water surrounding the anchor pad 30 and having guide means 126 extending above the dummy sleeve 106 to assist in guiding the remote grout string 50 thereinto. The guide means 1 26 comprises vertical member 128 having horizontal members 130 securing the vertical member 128 to structural members 104 and having two horizontal members 1 32 secured to the upper end of vertical member 128 which horizontal members 132 are angularly disposed with respect to each other thereby generally defining a V-shape (see Figure 2) to guide the remote grouting string 50 into the dummy sleeve 106. The dummy sleeve 106 may also have a locking ring 120' which releasably engages collet assembly means 66 of the stinger assembly means 66 to releasably retain the remote grouting string 50 in the dummy sleeve 106.

Referring to Figure 5, the various flow lines 108, 1 08' and 108" running from a typical sleeve 102 to a pile sleeve 36 are shown. Each flow line 108 branches into flow lines 108' and 108" which enter the inflatable grout seal 38 and the pile sleeve 36. Installed in flow line 108' which connects flow line 108 to the inflatable grout seal 38 installed on the lower end of pile sleeve 36 are manual valve means 134 having handle 135 thereon, pipe tee means 136 having plug 137 therein and inflation check valve means 200.

Installed in flow line 108" are flow control valve means 300, manual valve means 134, pipe tee means 1 36 and grout check valve means 400.

Installed in flow line 109 is manual valve means 134. If an inflatable grout seal 36 is not installed on the pile sleeve 36 and another type seal is utilized, such as a wiper type mechanical seal, flow line 108' may be eliminated along with inflation check valve means 200 and the flow control valve means 300 may be optional.

Referring to Figure 6, the grout check valve means 400 installed in the flow lines 108', 108" and 108"' is shown. The grout check valve means 400 comprises check valve housing 421, valve member guide 422, valve member 423 and valve seat 424.

The check valve housing 421 comprises first bore 425, chamfered surface 426, threaded bore 427, second bore 428, chamfered surface 429, third bore 430 having annular groove 431 and annular groove 432 therein and fourth bore 433.

The valve member guide 422 comprises cylindrical outer member 434 interconnected to cylindrical inner member 435 having a bore 436 by a plurality of vanes 437. The upper ends 438 of the vanes 437 contain notches 439 therein to receive one end of the valve spring 440.

The valve member guide 422 is retained in the check valve housing 421 by means of resilient snap ring means 441 installed in annular groove 432 abutting lower end surface 442 of the valve member guide 422 while resilient snap ring means 443 installed in annular groove 431 abuts upper end surface 444 of the valve member guide 422. Although the valve member guide 422 has been shown as being retained in position in the check valve housing 421 by means of resilient snap ring means 441 and 443, it may be secured in position by any suitable means such as welding, threaded engagement, etc.

The valve member 423 comprises elastomeric head means 445 secured to stem member 446 which is received in bore 436 of the valve member guide 422 and valve member cap 447 secured to the end thereof. The elastomeric head means 445 is formed having an angular surface 448 to mate with valve seat 424. The valve stem member 446 is formed having a pilot section 449 to receive one end of valve spring 440 thereover. The valve member cap 447 may be secured to the end of the valve member 423 by any suitable means to prevent the withdrawal of the valve stem member 446 from the valve member guide 422.

The valve seat member 424 comprises a cylindrical member having a bore 450 therethrough, threaded exterior surface 451 which engages threaded bore 427 of the valve member housing 421 and angular valve seat surface 452 which receives angular surface 448 of elastomeric valve head 445.

When installed in the valve member housing 421 , the elastomeric valve head 445 is urged into engagement with angular annular valve seat surface 452 of the valve seat 424 by one end of valve spring 440 abutting the lower surface of elastomeric valve head 445 while the other end of valve spring 440 is received in the notches 439 in the vanes 438 of valve member guide 422.

The grout check valves 420 may be installed in the flow lines 108" or 108"' by any suitable means, such as welding, to control the flow of grouting material from the pile sleeves being grouted.

Although the grouting check valve means 420 is preferred for installation in the flow lines 1 08" and 108"', any suitable commercially available check valve means may be used.

Referring to Figure 7, the inflation check valve means 200 comprises a check valve housing, a check valve body and check valve body return spring.

The check valve housing comprises a first member 271 which engages the plug portion of the valve body, a second member 272 which engages the stem portion of the valve body and an end cap 273. The first member 271 is formed with a bore 274 to accept a portion of the second member 272, a bore 275 which communicates with flow line 108', a conical bore 276 which engages the plug portion of the valve body and a bore 277 which communicates with the inflatable grout seal 38. The first member is connected to the flow line 108' at 278 by means of welding.

Similarly, the first member 271 is connected at 79 to inflatable grout seal 38 by means of welding.

Although the first member has been shown connected to flow line 108' by means of welding, any suitable type fastening means may be used.

The second member 272 comprises a central bore 281 having a valve body guide 282 and a plurality of bores 284 which provide communication between the cavity formed by bore 275 in the first member 271 and the cavity formed by bore 285 in the second member 272.

The end of thule second member 272 is sealed by a cap 273 secured to the first member 271 by any convenient means.

The valve body contained within the housing formed by the first member 271, second member 272 and end cap 273 comprises a valve body cap 286, resilient valve body seal 287, valve body stem 88 and valve body spring 289. The valve body stem 288 is formed with one end having the resilient valve body seal 287 being held in position against annular shoulder 291 by the valve body cap 286 threadedly engaging the end 292 of the valve body stem 288. Although the valve body cap 286 has been shown as being threadedly secured to the valve body stem 288, any suitable fastening means may be used. Additionaily, the resilient valve body seal 287 may be formed of any suitable elastomeric material.

As shown, the resilient valve body seal 287 and valve body cap 286 are biased into engagement with the conical bore 276 of the first member 271 of the check valve housing by means of the valve body spring 289.

A valve guard, not shown, may be provided to protect the inflation check valve means 200.

Referring to Figure 8, the inflation control valve means 300 is shown.

The inflation control valve means 300 comprises an inflation control valve housing 321, an inflation control valve cap 322 and an inflation control valve body 323.

The inflation control valve housing 321 is formed with a bore 324 which communicates with flow line 108' and receives head 331 of the inflation control valve 323, bore 325 which communicates with flow line 108" leading to the pile sleeve 36, bore 326 receives the shear pin 335 of the inflation control valve body 323, annular grooves 328 which received annular seal means 330, and threaded bore 329 which threadedly engages the threaded portion 322' of the inflation control valve cap 322. To form a fluid tight seal between the inflation control valve cap 322 and the inflation control valve housing 321 and annular seal means 330 is disposed in each annular groove 328. The annular seal means 330 may be of any suitable material, although an elastomeric O-ring is the preferred seal means.

The flow lines 108' or 108" may be secured to the inflation control valve housing by any suitable means, although welding is preferred.

The inflation control valve plug body 323 comprises a head portion 331 having annular grooves 332 containing annular seal means 333 which sealingly engage bore 324 of the inflation control valve housing 321, a stem portion 334 and a shear pin 335 installed in an aperture 336 in the end of stem portion 334. The shear pin 335 is held in position in the inflation control valve housing 321 by means of washers 337 which are, in turn, held in position by the inflation control valve cap 322 forcing one of the washers in abutment with shoulder 338 in the inflation control valve housing 321. The washers 337 have a central aperture of sufficient size to allow the stem portion 334 of the inflation control valve plug body 323 to freely slide therethrough upon shearing of the shear pin 335.Also, the valve cap 322 is formed having blind bore 11 9 therein to receive stem portion 334 of the inflation control valve plug body 323 upon shearing of the shear pin 335.

A valve guard, not shown, may be provided to protect the inflation control valve means 300 from damage during offshore platform handling operations.

Referring to Figure 3, when the remote grout string 50 is assembled and it is desired to grout the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34, the remote grout string 50 is connected to a sleeve 102 by lowering or stabbing the remote grout string 50 into the sleeve 102 while carefully guiding the string 50 into the sleeve 102 utilizing the orientation jet assembly 58 to position the string 50 with respect to the sleeve 102 by pumping water therethrough from the pump means 60 while monitoring the position of the string 50 on the deck of the barge 40 through the use of the video camera 54 and video receiver 56.

When the remote grout string 50 engages the sleeve 102 the stinger 68 engages sliding sleeve valve 11 8 in the sleeve 102, the collet assembly 70 releasably engages the locking ring 120 in the sleeve 102 to secure the remote grout string 50 in the sleeve 102 and the exterior of the stinger assembly means sealingly engages the sleeve 102 to provide a fluid tight seal between the remote grout string 50 and the sleeve 102.

When the remote grout string 50 is secured to the sleeve 102, any vertical motion due to wave action is compensated for by the slip joint means 64.

Referring to Figure 4, when the stinger 68 of the stinger assembly means 66 engages the sliding sleeve valve means 11 8 in the sleeve means 102, the sliding sleeve valve means 11 8 is opened to allow fluid communication through the remote grout string 50, through interior portion 122 through grout line 108, and through grout lines 108', 108" and 108"' to the inflatable grout seal 38 on the pile sleeve 36 and the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, to inflate the inflatable grout seal 38 on the pile sleeve 36 to seal the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34 fluid is pumped by suitable pumping means (not shown) communicating with the remote grout string 50, through remote grout string 50 and through flow lines 108 and 108' into the seal 38. The fluid being pumped to the inflatable grout seal 38 through flow lines 108 and .108' is prevented from flowing into flow line 108" until a desired pressure level is reached by inflation control valve means 300 which is installed in the flow line 108" in its closed position.

Until the inflation control valve means 300 opens allowing flow through flow line 108", the inflatable grout seal 38 may be inflated and checked for leaks. Once the inflation control valve means 300 opens by shearing shear pin 335, any decrease in fluid pressure in line 108' will cause inflation check valve means 200 to close thereby trapping fluid pressure in the inflatable grout seal 38.

After inflation control valve means 300 is opened grout is pumped by suitable pumping means (not shown) communicating with the remote grout string 50, through remote grout string 50 and through flow lines 108 and 108' into the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34 to fill the annulus with grout. Upon the cessation of the pumping of grout through flow line 108", the grout check valve 200 closes thereby preventing the flow of grout from the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34.

At this point the remote grout string 50 is removed from the sleeve 102 and inserted into the dummy sleeve 106. Any grout in remote grout string 50 is flushed therefrom out through the open bottom of dummy sleeve 106 by pumping water through the string 50. After flushing the remote grout string 50 is ready to be inserted into another sleeve 102 to repeat the inflation and grouting process for another pile sleeve 36.

If problems occur in the grouting of a pile sleeve 36 due to the failure of the remote grouting string 50 or remote grouting system 100, a grout line may be manually connected to flow line 108"' having manual valve means 134 thereon, manual valve means 1 34 opened and grout pumped into the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34. Upon the cessation of pumping grout, the manual valve means 134 in flow line 108"' is closed thereby trapping grout in the annulus between the pile sleeve 36 and pile 34 and the grout line disconnected from the grout line 108"'.

Claims (27)

1. A grouting system for a marine structure for remotely grouting the annulus between a pile sleeve of said marine structure and a pile driven therethrough, said system comprising: remote grouting string means including: pipe means; remote video camera means secured to the pipe means; orientation jet assembly means secured to the pipe means; and stinger assembly means installed on one end of the remote grouting string means; and grouting system means including; at least one sleeve means which releasably receives a portion of the stinger means therein; and flow line means interconnecting the sleeve means with at least one said annulus between a pile sleeve and a pile driven therethrough.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote grouting string means further includes: safety joint means; and slip joint means.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grouting system further includes: dummy sleeve means which releasably receives a portion of the stinger means therein.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the dummy sleeve means includes: flared upper end means to assist in guiding the remote grouting string means thereinto; conical guide means therein having a bore therein to receive a portion of the stinger assembly means therein; and open lower end means to permit ffow from the dummy sleeve means.

5. A system according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the dummy sleeve means further includes locking ring means to releasably engage a portion of the stinger assembly means and guide means having horizontal member means thereon which are angularly disposed with respect to each other secured to the dummy sleeve means to assist in guiding the remote grouting string means into the dummy sleeve means.

6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the grouting system means further comprises: valve means located in the flow line means interconnecting the sleeve means with said annulus between a pile sleeve and a pile driven therethrough.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the valve means includes: check valve means to permit flow from the sleeve means to the pile sleeve; and flow control valve means to control the initial level of pressure at which flow is permitted from the sleeve means to the pile sleeve means.

8. A system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sleeve means includes: flared upper end means to assist in guiding the remote grouting string means thereinto; conical guide means therein having a bore therein to receive a portion of the stinger assembly means therein; valve means which is actuated by the stinger assembly means; and closed lower end means to prevent flow from the lower end of the sleeve means.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the sleeve means further includes locking ring means to releasably engage a portion of the stinger assembly means.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow line means interconnects the sleeve means with a plurality of annuli between pile sleeves and piles driven therethrough.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the pile sleeve includes an inflatable grouting packer installed thereon and the flow line means includes a portion interconnecting the inflatable grouting packer to the sleeve means and a portion interconnecting the annulus between the pile sleeve and a pile driven therethrough to the sleeve means.

12. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the stinger assembly means includes a contractable collet assembly means thereon.

13. A system according to claim 7 and 11 wherein the'check valve means includes: first check valve means in the portion of the flow line means interconnecting the inflatable grouting packer to the sleeve means to control the flow from the sleeve means to the inflatable grouting packer installed on the pile sleeve; and second check valve means in the portion of the flow line means interconnecting the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough to the sleeve means to control the flow from the sleeve means to the pile sleeve.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising: first valve means and pipe tee means having a plug therein installed in the portion of the flow line means interconnecting the inflatable grouting packer to the sleeve means; and second valve means and pipe tee means having a plug therein installed in the portion of the flow line means interconnecting the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough to the sleeve means.

1 5. A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising: second flow line means connected to the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough having a valve means installed therein.

1 6. A system according to any preceding claim, further including: pump means connected to the orientation jet assembly means secured to the pipe means; video receiver means connected to the remote video camera means; snubbing unit means reieasably retaining the remote grouting string means; and pump means communicating with the interior of remote grouting string means.

1 7. A method of remotely grouting the annulus between a submerged pile sleeve of a marine structure, the sleeve having a pile driven therethrough, and an inflatable packer means installed thereon, the marine structure having at least one sleeve means in communication with the annulus via flow line means therebetween, the flow line means including check valve means and flow control valve means installed therein, and having dummy sleeve means, the method comprising the steps of: lowering a remote grouting string means from the surface of the body of water; inserting the remote grouting string means into the sleeve means; and pumping cementitious grouting material through the remote grouting string into the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough of the marine structure.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of: positioning the remote grouting string means while lowering the remote grouting string means by pumping fluid out, using an orientation jet assembly means secured to the remote grouting string means.

19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, further comprising the steps of: removing the remote grouting string from the sleeve means after the completion of the pumping of cementitious grouting material into the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough; and inserting the remote grouting string means into the dummy sleeve means.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: flushing any remaining cementitious material from the remote grouting string means by pumping fluid therethrough when the remote grouting string means is inserted in the dummy sleeve means.

21. A method according to claim 17, 18, 1 9 or 20, comprising the further step of: inflating the inflatable packer means installed on the pile sleeve of the marine structure by pumping fluid through the remote grouting string when the remote grouting string is inserted into the sleeve means before the pumping of cementitious grouting material into the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough.

22. A method according to claim 21, comprising the further steps of: preventing the flow of fluid from the inflatable packer means installed on the pile sleeve means after the inflation thereof utilizing the check valve means in the flow line means; and controlling the level of pressure at which fluid flows into the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough utilizing the control valve means in the flow line means.

23. A method according to claim 22 comprising the further step of: preventing the flow of cementitious grouting material from the annulus between the pile sleeve having a pile driven therethrough after the pumping of cementitious grouting material thereinto.

24. A remote control grouting system for a marine structure, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 5, or Figures 2 to 6, or Figures 2 to 7, or Figures 2 to 8, of the accompanying drawings.

25. A marine structure having a grouting system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 and 24.

26. A method of grouting by remote control substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of grouting wherein there is used a grouting system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 and 24.