Jan. 16--Movers and shakers among Alaska's oil services and contracting companies gather in Anchorage Jan. 23, to discuss the uncertain state of state's petroleum industry, which directly and indirectly supports one-third of the Alaska's economy and about 90 percent of the state budget.

"Meet Alaska," the Alaska Support Industry Alliance's big annual conference, will meet at the Anchorage Sheraton Hotel. The Alliance is the trade association for oil and gas contractors and service companies. It has about 450 member companies, which collectively employ 35,000 to 40,000 Alaskan workers, according to Paul Laird, the Alliance's general manager.

Speakers at this year's event include senior executives with the major North Slope producing companies, BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Pioneer Natural Resources Co., as well as exploring companies like Talisman Energy, parent company of FEX LLC, which has been drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Companies typically lay out their plans for the year at the Meet Alaska conference, but this year, given recent low oil prices, the industry faces an unusual degree of uncertainty.

Among topics likely to be discussed at the conference are the dispute between ExxonMobil Corp. and the state of Alaska over whether ExxonMobil can, at long last, begin work at Point Thomson. State officials are blocking ExxonMobil efforts to begin development now. The state has cancelled leases over a dispute.

The issue is now in court and settlement talks are underway.

Nabors Alaska Drilling Co. is also on the conference agenda, to discuss plans for the drilling challenges at Point Thomson, which include the difficulties of drilling into a high-pressure gas reservoir.

Oil prices likely also will be a hot topic. Prices plunged from more than $140 per barrel last summer to below $30 per barrel in December, and have since bobbed up and down in the $30 per barrel to $40 per barrel range.

Demand for oil is down, with the economies of major industrial nations plagued by recession. Most analysts expect a gradual recovery of prices to the $70 per barrel range later this year, if the nation's economy begins to recover, but there is no way to know for sure.

BP has already announced some cutbacks, but will proceed with several important projects, mainly the new Liberty offshore field and a heavy oil experimental production project.

Parker Drilling Co.