Patent ID: 7661905

Claim:
A suction pile installation method comprising the steps of: lowering a suction pile ( 10 ) to the sea bed, the suction pile having a top surface ( 11 ), a substantially cylindrical side surface ( 15 ) and a bottom surface ( 18 ) which is at least partially open, keeping the interior of the suction pile in open fluid communication with the exterior at least via the bottom surface, dropping the pile onto the sea bed ( 19 ), characterized in that the method comprises: allowing fluid to escape from the pile via at least one opening ( 16 , 17 ) in a lower half of the side surface ( 15 ) for reducing the pressure inside the suction pile upon contact of the suction pile with the sea bed, and allowing the suction pile to penetrate into the sea bed over such a distance that the at least one opening ( 16 , 17 ) in the side surface becomes closed off from the exterior by the soil, and pumping air from the suction pile from an air connection ( 12 ) situated in an upper half of the suction pile for driving the pile further into the sea bed.