Montana Tech students, assistant professor attend IADC/SPE Conference in Norway

Five students and one assistant professor from Montana Technological University traveled to the International Association of Drilling Engineers/Society of Petroleum Engineers (IADC/SPE) Conference, held March 4-6, 2025 in Stavanger, Norway.

Students Mackenzie Cook, Shaena Jackson, Kyle Mitchell, Audrie Jensen and Marcus Hermes joined Assistant Professor Dr. David Rathgeber at the journey.

“I gained a lot of valuable knowledge from this trip,” petroleum engineering senior Mackenzie Cook, from Halifax, Pennsylvania, said. “The conference focused on machine learning and integrating AI into the industry. These two topics always have amazing knowledge to offer.”

In addition to the conference, the students explored the Stavanger Port in the city center where there were souvenir shops, docked cruise ships, and restaurants. They also visited  Øvre Holmegate, also known as Fargegaten (the street of colors),  Sverd i Fjell (Three Swords) Monument. The group spent hours in the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, reading the information boards, examining the prototypes, and taking advantage of all the interactive prototypes available.

Cook also appreciated the cultural aspects of traveling to Norway.

“This trip was my first international trip, so it really opened my eyes to understand that every country does not operate like we do,” Cook said. “From customer service to road signs/driving habits to government regulations, I learned so much with every conversation I had with the locals.”

Jackson, petroleum engineering senior from Alberta, Canada, also noticed the differences in Norwegian working culture.

“I think the country really takes care of its people,” Jackson observed. “The work week for working offshore is two weeks on, four weeks off, compared to the typical North American schedule of two weeks on, two weeks off. Young students struggling in class have a ‘social’ portion where they get to walk outside, talk through their feelings, shop at the grocery store. The teacher basically changes the scenery and talks with the student or students one-on-one to process their emotions rather than punishing them. They also have no homelessness in Stavanger- our tour guide said it's because of their unemployment policies providing financial aid for a period of time while they apply for jobs. They are required to accept the first job offer they receive and encouraged to continue looking if it's not a job they enjoy.”

Cook and Jackson went on a cruise along the fjords, where they met other students from Texas A&M and Texas Tech. They were dropped off at a trailhead where they and six others went on a guided hike to Pulpit Rock. This rock is 2,000 feet above sea level and 300,000 people hike to it every year.

“Even though it was foggy and raining, the views were unbelievable,” Cook said. “The hike was tough, but the experience was amazing and made me forget how badly my legs hurt. Shaena and I were smiling and laughing through the entire thing. We hiked past multiple waterfalls and got the opportunity to refill our water bottles with the freshest natural water. We saw Pulpit Rock from sea level on our cruise. So, making it to the top was an amazing accomplishment. The photo of us at the top is my favorite photo. It looked like we were on top of the world, and it sure felt like we were! At the top, we were served a packed sandwich lunch with warm blackcurrant juice — which was delicious.”

On the way home, the pair drove through the Ryfast Tunnel, which is the world’s longest and deepest underwater car tunnel that stretches 8.9 miles.

“Seeing the jaw-dropping Norway coast, hiking in the dark, and driving through the tunnel below bedrock were all firsts for me and experiences I'll never forget!” Jackson said.

Jackson encourages students to join student clubs and organizations that offer opportunities to attend conferences both domestically and internationally.

“This trip was made possible by the SPE Club on campus,” Jackson said. “I say get involved with the student groups on campus to experience conferences among other benefits. Montana Tech's SPE Club is for any student interested in working in the energy industry, not just petroleum engineering students. It's great to go to these conferences and connect with other students and industry professionals.”

Rathgeber was awarded an opportunity to present on his recent Ph.D. research to a captive audience that consisted of international attendees, as well as graduates from Montana State University and with ties to Montana Tech.

“It was certainly an amazing opportunity to be able to present at such a notable conference,” Rathgeber said.“My research focus really aligns with what is happening offshore and in large-scale operations, so I felt my audience was very interested in what I had to show.”

Rathgeber also took the opportunity to explore with his family while in Norway, visiting both Stavanger and Oslo.

“The history and beauty of the Norway is truly breathtaking – it makes to take a step back and remember that North America is still a relatively young nation, and seeing how the cultures have developed and advanced over thousands of years is awe-inspiring,” Rathgeber said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to return to the conference next year with future research!”