The conference, being held in Perth next week, will also feature more than 220 exhibitors and will have an extensive technical and commercial program.

The speakers program will end with a bang on Wednesday April 9.

The day starts with three keynote speakers addressing the plenary session.

Schlumberger executive vice president and Western Geco president Dalton Boutte will discuss new horizons in deepwater drilling. International Association of Drilling Contractors president Lee Hunt will speak on changes in drilling technologies and the regulations that affect drilling. And CGG Veritas vice-president business development Asia-Pacific Pierre Lanfranchi will discuss how now seismic methods are enabling substantial yet cost-effective improvements in data acquisition.

The late morning will feature concurrent sessions on geophysics exploration technology and deepwater production, as well as the annual Independents Forum.

The APPEA Conference lunch, running from 1pm until 3pm, offers free seating to maximise opportunities to network and socialise. It will be addressed by Paul Carter author of don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs - She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse, who will discuss his adventures in the oil patch.

After lunch, leading business journalist Michael Pascoe will facilitate a panel discussion on ‘The changing domestic energy outlook - a post-emissions trading context'.

The panel will feature executives 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.

The conference will wind up with ‘Daiquiris at Dusk': farewell cocktails at the Perth Convention Centre.