Regina – The Regina edition of the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference seems to have all the luck. The annual conference, which alternates between Regina and Bismarck, N.D., has held in Regina during the last down year in the oilpatch, in 2009
Six years later, the Saskatchewan hosts get to do it all again during a down year. But that doesn’t necessarily mean attendance will be down this year.
The 2015 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference will be held April 28-30 at Evraz Place in Regina. Melinda Yurkowski, assistant chief geologist with the Ministry of the Economy, noted the 2009 show had similar number to the 2007 show. So event organizers are hoping registration will be on par with the 2013 event.
That year close to 2,200 people registered. “It’s really hard to judge,” she said on Jan. 19.
With oil currently below US $50 per barrel WTI, it may mean more people can attend because they are eager to market their goods and network. But it may also mean companies are imposing travel restrictions.
Sponsorships and booth sales are down a little, but so far they’ve already sold out 85 per cent of the booths. And if need be, they can squeeze a few more exhibitors in.
The presentations are still being lined up, but there will again be two concurrent sessions running, and a substantial trade show area.
Plans are for 24 to 26 talks. Registration is now open at wbpc.ca.
