Two Quick Trips

Again I've been keeping very  busy.  The other week I had a trip to Whiting, Indiana.  This lasted for 4 days, then I returned home only to go to Port Arthur Texas the following day.  The Texas job lasted about a week and we had no issues even though we expected to have issues.

The Whiting job was for Praxair.  We did not complete the work and I had to return last week for a couple days.  We knew it was going to be a short job so I took Loralee and Lincoln with me to stay in the hotel and hang out with me. I have to go there one more time for about 2 weeks and then the job should be done.  

 Driving through Chicago to get to Whiting.

From Travel

Day and Night Pictures of the Valero Refinery in Port Arthur Texas

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From Travel

Offshore

Note:Photos are not mine and are copies I found on the internet.

I found some more information on where I stayed while in Abu Dhabi offshore.  

This is the rig I worked on prior to getting installed in Abu Dhabi.  The top right of the rig is grey.  That is the compressor skid where I worked.

From United Arab Emirates

From United Arab Emirates

This is the accomodation barge that had the rooms the workers slept in.  This one held 200 people.  This is what it looks like when they move it.  The legs go down and there is a little bridge to get onto the rig.  I think it can work in like 200 ft of water, but the water was only 53 feet deep where I was working.

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This is one of the rooms.  I had a top bunk.

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This is the barge connected to a different rig.  This would look similar to the rigs I was working on as there were 6 or 7 rigs hooked together with bridges.

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Dubai Mall and Aquarium

When I was in Dubai I went to the mall.

Like Dubai, even the mall was a little overkill.

I think this tree was about 60 feet tall

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Some waterfall thing.

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Ice Skating rink

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I went to the Aquarium in the mall.  The aquarium is noted for having the largest single viewing window in the world or something like that....I couldn't fit it all in the picture.

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A Big fish

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Walking down a tunnel in the aquarium. 

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Some other fish

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My Rental Car

I took a picture of my rental car.  It's the white car.

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I wish...I only got to rent a Mitsubishi Lancer.  I don't think I could afford to rent a Lamborghini even if it was only for one day.  There were lots of nice cars.  A couple Lambos, Ferraris, Lots of Porshes and BMWs.

Dubai

One of the days I rented a car and drove to Dubai.  It's about 1.5 hours away.  My biggest event was visiting the Burj Dubai which is the tallest building in the world.  It opened on January 5th and I went in it on the 9th.

I had to tilt my camara to fit the building in a picture.

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Driving to Dubai.  Notice the palm trees in the desert.  Abu Dhabi has plenty of money to waste on things like greenery in a desert.

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Almost to Dubai

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I was probably a mile away at this point.

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Going up the elevator to the 124th floor...the oberservation level.

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Burj Dubai

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Quite a view

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Looking up a down.  Quite a distance in both directions.

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You can see Dubai Worlds in the background.

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Other Views

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Dubai has built a place called Palms Jumeirah.  It is a property on the sea that is shaped like a palm tree.  I drove on it just so I say I was there.   It's mostly private property so I couldn't park and go onto any of the beaches.

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This is the Atlantis hotel on the end of the palms

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Returned Home

I have been home for about a week now. I was sent to Abu Dhabi inthe United Arab Emirates on January 2nd to supervise some work done on a compressor. After arriving in Abu Dhabi, I was informed the other people that I was working with did not have their visas yet. I had to wait 2 weeks in a hotel waiting for them. After arriving, my job scope continually grew. I ended up staying almost 7 weeks and at that point, the job is not done.

I found an issue that will require a design change and a new oil filter. Once the new parts arrive I will have to go back for only 2 weeks(hopefully) to complete the work.

Since I was stuck in a hotel for 2 weeks, I managed to walk around some of Abu Dhabi.

My Hotel Room-Crowne Plaza cost between 250 and 500 a night. only a couple of the nights weren't 250

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The view out of my window
 

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I ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant. I got the bill and realized I just spend 30 bucks for a breakfast so I didn't return to eat here.

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Abu Dhabi has a bunch of parks on the one side of the city

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The view from the top of my hotel building...not too exciting.

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From United Arab Emirates

Mountain Dew

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Some Abu Dhabi Buildings

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Dresser Rand Abu Dhabi.  I visited there twice.  It's very small compared to the Painted Post facility.

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Some of the main roads had pedestrian tunnels.  They had nice scenes made with tiles.

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From United Arab Emirates

From United Arab Emirates