Field Trip - Grande Cache

I don't generally blog about work, but this week was a bit out of the ordinary because I flew out to Grande Cache with my team for a field visit.

On average, I generally only make about one field visit per year, and it's always nice to get out of the office-- even though I endure harassment about my "pretty" steel-toed boots. On previous occasions, we flew out in a clunky little plane that seats about 8.

This time we flew out in a Falcon 900-- a jet!

Photo Credit

Although this is not an actual image from the plane (we did not have wine or throw blankets-- although maybe they would have given us some if we'd asked), this is what the interior of the plane looked like. Pretty swanky, eh? There was a flight attendant who served us hot and cold breakfast, chocolates and coffee and tea. She also provided us with newspapers and hot towels! She also offered me a barf bag halfway through the trip, as I had assumed the fetal position in my seat, and feeling quite queasy. I'm happy to report the bag went unused...

We were supposed to visit a drilling rig when we landed, but there were whiteout conditions in the field. Instead we stuck to the office and did some brainstorming.

Next, we checked into our hotel.

Check out my view from the hotel! Stellar, right?

Hotel room view.

The parking lot is not exactly glamorous, but the rooms are nice and well maintained.

The following day we met with the field operators. We gave them a presentation, and listened to their suggestions and input on our future plans. When our day wound up early, we headed to Sulphur Gate to do the tourist-thang.

Smokey River at Sulphur Gate.

Cadomin conglomerate outcrop at Sulphur Gate.

The path was EXTREMELY icy, and very slippery-- but the views were very impressive. Grande Cache is definitely nestled in a beautiful location.

Today we are headed out to have a tour of our gas plant and multiple wellsites. It was a long day-- and not without incident. First thing in the morning, one of the Jeep's in our convoy got a flat tire. But there was no shortage of men to make quick work of fixing it.

Fixing the flat.

Tomorrow we are giving a presentation to some students at a local school. Then we're heading back home in style in our jet.

Looking forward to coming home.

Looking forward to the weekend!