on our way to sirdal

Yes, no classes and no meetings for the next couple of days! We are on our way to an R&R high up in the mountains :) But to start this off, we had to wake up early in the morning *yawn* Luckily, I got to sleep on our way to our first stop ---

 

misty morning

first stop - IKM, Sola 

Given that I was so sleepy but this company is really interesting because they grew up, making a niche for themselves, during the time when the petroleum industry was growing in Norway. They started out with providing instrumentation services to the oil and gas platforms and grew into serving subsea, completion, commissioning, operations, engineering, and fabrication works among others. 

 

Norwegian houses along the river

second stop - Aker Solutions, Egursund (along the Norway Coastal Road)

Now, I'm finally more awake! 

Aker Solutions is a service provider for the oil and gas industry all over the world. They provide oilfield products, systems and services and most interestingly, build the platforms and subsea products for big oil companies, one of which was being built in their shipyard - a gas compression subsea manifold. When we got to see this manifold up close, it is as big as a two, three story building and this structure is meant to be dropped onto the seabed of along the North Sea. 

Also of interest about this company is its focus on its employees, providing the best benefits they could, especially with respect to its safety and work attendance. It is interesting to see a company with a reported zero to none attendance in employees because they encourage reporting of any incidence that could affect their personnel and their operations. Well, just saying.

 on our way to Aker Solutions

at 4000 tonne, this is Conoco Phillip's subsea compression structure

stop 3 - Tonstad and the Sira-Kvina Hydropower Station

Arriving before lunch, we were treated to a very nice view of a fjord. Lunch was light and fast so we got to see the outside even if it's bitingly cold. The sun is out bright so it was fun.

However, after lunch, our class were on the bus again and this time, on its way to a hydropower station which is located under the mountains. What, under the mountains? Yes! Specifically, that one along the left of the picture.

We headed into the mountains but had to stop along the way as the bus was relatively large and we had to walk a few more meters more to get to the main heart of the station wearing our neon green jackets. Inside the station, we were given a briefing and a headset so we can hear the manager speak more clearly amidst the burr of machines. It is fascinating to hear how Norwegians utilize their water resources to give the power they need to run their households and businesses. To put it simply, water trapped by natural dams on the mountain tops gets sent down on big pipes constructed inside the mountains and the kinetic energy it produces runs the turbines which in turns converts it to power that is distributed in their power grid. 

 inside the mountain. i feel like a troll or a dwarf (like in the LOTR)

 the round structure is just the top of the turbine. this goes a long way down still

  more changing colors (outside the hydropower station building)

next short stop - Dorga Bro

 this bridge was built in 1919

 view to the west from the bridge

and finally our last stop - our home for the next two days! Sirdal Hoyfjellshotell

 the hotel from the outside looks promising

and so it is! my lovely room with a view of the hills (and parking lot!)

lovely road view behind the hotel...

good night, sirdal.