INUVIK - Inuvik is less than one month away from hosting the 11th annual Inuvik Petroleum Show, and organizers are confident attendance will at least match that of last year's show.

Marty Verbonac with Northwind Industries sets up his booth at the 9th annual Inuvik Petroleum Show in 2009. About 400 people are expected to take part at this year's show, scheduled to take place on June 14 and 15 in Inuvik. - NNSL file photo

Larry Peckford, coordinator of this year's gathering of oil and gas industry members and Mackenzie Delta residents, said the number of registered delegates reached 300 last week – about 100 short of last year's tally and well short of previous years, when the show attracted as many as 600 participants.

But given the amount of Inuvik-based businesses that traditionally register late, Peckford said he's confident 400 people will ultimately hobnob on the trade show inside the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.

"We're feeling pretty good that we'll definitely but up to last year's number," he said.

At Capital Suites, which has 82 rooms, reservations poured in a while ago.

"We're overbooked, actually," said Ali Mirza, general manager of the hotel. "There are always last minute cancellations, in which case we move people to apartments we have."

With the Joint Review Panel's report on the Mackenzie Gas Project completed, and the federal cabinet now giving its official blessing to the $16.2-billion gas line, supporters of the project are anxiously awaiting word from the proponents, led by Imperial Oil, on whether they'll begin construction by 2015. That decision, as mandated by the National Energy Board, must be made by the end of 2013.

"Everything's been approved; it's just waiting for the federal government to negotiate with the proponents at this point on funding," said Mary Ann Ross, vice president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

But lest people tire of talking about the pipeline, organizers of the trade show are also trying to promote other opportunities for the region, namely Arctic offshore drilling in the Beaufort Sea.

Both Imperial Oil and BP Canada have bid millions of dollars on offshore parcels, but a moratorium on drilling is currently in effect as the NEB reviews the safety and environmental requirements for offshore drilling in Canada.

During a special presentation on the morning of June 13 – a day before the petroleum show officially kicks off – Dr. Michael Byers of the University of British Columbia will give a talk on the Beaufort Sea boundary dispute between the United States and Canada.

"He's really excited to come up and give his understanding of what's at play here because this dispute is not settled which, in fact, will need to be settled if we get serious about extraction of resources out of the Beaufort Sea," said Peckford.

In another unique offering, "We've given both major aboriginal organizations – which is the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation – their own (information) sessions. This is in response to their feedback to us."

Ross said she'll use her presentation as an opportunity to educate businesses in the Gwich'in settlement region on how to prepare for business opportunities from the pipeline.

Imperial Oil and its MGP partners are aiming to devote 15 per cent of their spending on services with NWT businesses during construction – an estimated $930 million for the NWT economy, according to the GNWT.

"There's lots of things that are required under the project that they need to do," said Ross of Gwich'in businesses. "It's all a process that they need to learn about."

Bill Gwozd, vice-president of non-partisan oil and gas observer Ziff Energy, will also be on hand to deliver a presentation that, while bullish on natural gas' future prospects, may leave people anxious for the quick development of the pipeline wanting.

Giving News/North a taste of his petroleum show presentation on natural gas demand, Gwozd said, "There's growth in traditional sectors, but there's also growth in non-traditional sectors (like those that require natural gas for the production of ethanol). In the horizon of 2020 or 2030 or 2040 or 2050, these non-traditional sectors may emerge as major big sectors."

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