Methods and apparatus for attenuating waves in a bore hole, and seismic surveying
systems incorporating the same. In one embodiment, an attenuating device includes
a soft compliant bladder coupled to a pressurized gas source. A pressure regulating
system reduces the pressure of the gas from the gas source prior to entering the
bladder and operates in conjunction with the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid
in a bore hole to maintain the pressure of the bladder at a specified pressure
relative to the surrounding bore hole pressure. Once the hydrostatic pressure of
the bore hole fluid exceeds that of the gas source, bore hole fluid may be admitted
into a vessel of the gas source to further compress and displace the gas contained
therein. In another embodiment, a water-reactive material may be used to provide
gas to the bladder wherein the amount of gas generated by the water-reactive material
may depend on the hydrostatic pressure of the bore hole fluid.