According to APPEA chairman Colin Beckett, this year about 2000 participants are expected to attend and more than 220 exhibitors will be on display.

"The increased involvement from international business demonstrates recognition from the global services sector of the potential of the Australian oil and gas industry," he said.

This year's conference has the theme of ‘Energising Change' and will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing the upstream petroleum sector.

So soon after the federal election, industry is still coming to terms with the new government and changing policies, according to Beckett.

"The next two to three years will be a watershed for the energy industry in Australia, with new policies impacting on all aspects of exploration, production, delivery and energy use," he said.

As well as regular features such as the annual acreage release, industry awards and poster displays, APPEA 2008 will also have an extensive technical and commercial program.

Presentations will cover such issues as enhanced oil recovery; developments in geophysics and geochemical technologies; new approaches in reservoir modelling; safety, skills, education and training; reservoir and production engineering; lessons offered by global mega-projects; and the changing international energy paradigm.

Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources Martin Ferguson, and Western Australian Deputy Premier Eric Ripper will address the conference, as will leading oil and gas industry figures such as Greater Gorgon Area general manager and APPEA chairman Colin Beckett and BHP Billiton Petroleum chief executive J Michael Yeager.

The speakers program will end with a bang on Wednesday afternoon. Delegates will have a later but longer lunch, from 1pm until 3pm. Then the conference will finish with a highly topical panel discussion.

The panel, chaired by Coogee Resources chief executive Peter Hood and facilitated by high-profile journalist Michael Pascoe, will address the topic, ‘The changing domestic energy outlook - a post-emissions trading context'.

It will feature panelists from all major energy supply sectors - gas, nuclear, coal and renewables - as well as Curtin University professor of energy economics Tony Owen and CRA International associate principal Anna Matysek.

Topics to be considered include: the role of individual energy supply sources, how a changing energy mix will affect the Australian economy, and how we can move to emissions trading at least cost.