Method and an apparatus for attenuating pressure pulses

1. A method for attenuating water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when a percussion mechanism is used, the sea piling comprising a stage of driving at least one pile into an earth formation at the bottom of a sea or lake by means of the percussion mechanism, the pile having an axial extension defining a longitudinal axis and having an outer periphery, at least a part of the axial extension of the pile is surrounded by sea or lake water, the method comprising the steps of:

surrounding the pile, along at least a section of said part of the axial extension, with a tubular outer sleeve, the outer sleeve having an inner periphery and extending in an axial direction of the pile; and

using a gas introduction system to provide, at least partially along said section of said part of the axial extension, one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile; and

maintaining a pressure in said gas-filled space or said plurality of gas-filled spaces via said gas introduction system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of surrounding the pile with a tubular outer sleeve comprises surrounding the pile, along an entirety of said part of the axial extension of the pile, with the tubular outer sleeve.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of using a gas introduction system to provide one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces comprises providing, along the entirety of said part of the axial extension of the pile, one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of using a gas introduction system to provide one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces comprises providing, along an entirety of said section of said part of the axial extension, one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of using a gas introduction system to provide one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces comprises introducing gas, or a gas mixture, into one space or a plurality of spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting whether said space or said plurality of spaces is/are gas-filled, and

controlling the introduction of gas, or a gas mixture, and/or extraction of water from said space or said plurality of spaces, said controlling being based at least partially on the detection of whether said space or said plurality of spaces is/are gas-filled.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of detecting comprises using one or more sensors, at least one of said one or more sensors obtaining performance data of a water extraction unit.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of surrounding the pile, along at least said section of said part of the axial extension, with the outer sleeve such that the pile is axially movable in relation to the outer sleeve.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of providing one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces comprises providing one gas-filled space of a plurality of gas-filled spaces via an inlet that extends through a wall of the outer sleeve.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing water present between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile through an outlet, said outlet extending through a wall of the outer sleeve.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being configured for positioning proximate to the earth formation at the bottom of the sea or lake; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of sealing the first end of the outer sleeve with the pile so that the one gas-filled space or the plurality of gas-filled spaces are isolated from outside of the outer sleeve, said step of sealing the first end includes sinking a part of the outer sleeve into the earth formation.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being configured for positioning proximate to the earth formation at the bottom of the sea or lake; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a sealing element at the second end to seal the outer sleeve with the pile.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being configured for positioning proximate to the earth formation at the bottom of the sea or lake; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a filter unit at the second end to at least minimize earth formation material from entering between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of sinking a portion of the outer sleeve into the earth formation at the bottom of the sea or lake.

15. An apparatus for attenuation of water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when using a percussion mechanism for driving at least one pile into an earth formation at the bottom of a sea or lake, the pile having an axial extension defining a longitudinal axis and having an outer periphery, at least a part of the axial extension is surrounded by sea or lake water, the apparatus comprising:

a tubular outer sleeve having an inner periphery, the outer sleeve being configured to surround the pile along at least a section of said part of the axial extension while extending in an axial direction of the pile, and

a gas introduction system to providing at least partially along said section of said part of the axial extension, one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile, said gas introduction system being configured to maintain a pressure in said gas-filled space or said plurality of gas-filled spaces.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the outer sleeve is configured to surround the pile along an entirety of said part of the axial extension.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said gas introduction system is configured to provide one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile along the entirety of said part of the axial extension.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said gas introduction system comprises a gas compressor for introducing gas, or a gas mixture, into one space or a plurality of spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one detector for detecting whether said space or said plurality of spaces is/are gas-filled, and a control unit configured to control the gas introduction system and/or a water extraction system based at least partially on the detection of the at least one detector, for controlling the introduction of gas, or a gas mixture, and/or the extraction of water.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises vibration isolating supports between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile to prevent the outer sleeve from directly abutting against the pile.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein along at least a section of said part of the axial extension the outer sleeve is configured to surround the pile such that the pile is axially movable in relation to the outer sleeve.

22. A sea piling system comprising:

a percussion mechanism for driving at least one pile into an earth formation at the bottom of a sea or lake, the pile having an axial extension defining a longitudinal axis and having an outer periphery, at least a part of the axial extension of the pile being surrounded by sea or lake water; and

at least one apparatus for attenuating water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when using the percussion mechanism, the apparatus having

a tubular outer sleeve having an inner periphery, the outer sleeve being configured to surround the pile along at least a section of said part of the axial extension while extending in an axial direction of the pile, and

a gas compressor to introduce a gas between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile for providing, at least partially along said section of said part of the axial extension of the pile, one gas-filled space or a plurality of gas-filled spaces between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile,

the one gas-filled space or the plurality of gas-filled spaces being in direct contact with the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile.