Local companies involved in the petroleum industry are already beginning to plan for the coming Weyburn Oil & Gas Show and are looking forward to the contacts they'll make.

The two-day oil show, set to begin Wednesday, June 4, will showcase industry innovations and what companies are doing in the area's oil industry.

EnCana's Weyburn facility will be setting up a booth at the show, a booth that according to Dave Craigen, control room operator for EnCana, was very popular at the last show two years ago

This year's show has forced Craigen to begin from scratch because of the merger between PanCanadian and Alberta Energy Corporation last year which created EnCana.

"This year what I'm trying to get together for June is because we're EnCana now, I want to feature what we are and where we are globally," said Craigen.

During the last show, PanCanadian, put up a 24-foot wide projection screen that would give a three-dimensional representation of the carbon dioxide injection process at the oil field south of Weyburn.

Craigen said there was quite a bit of interest in the presentation as well as the technology the company was using to put on the demonstration.

There was also significant interest in tours of the carbon dioxide injection site at the last show.

While the petroleum show doesn't directly affect EnCana Corporation's profits, Craigen said the exposure always has positive results.

"A lot of the exhibitors really like coming here because they get a lot of serious business contacts," said Craigen.

Dale Mainil, one of the owners of Jerry Mainil Ltd., said the company is involved in the oil show because of the chance to make contacts with potential clients.

"That's what it's all about, to promote ourselves and show people what we have been doing and what we can do," said Mainil. "It's basically a good contact event."

Jerry Mainil is planning on showcasing some of the projects the company has worked on over 2002.

The company will be putting on a slide presentation as well as bringing in some of its heavy equipment to the outdoor display.

Mainil also gets the opportunity to meet some of the people he does business with over the phone and doesn't get to see on a regular basis.

The company however doesn't only benefit from the exposure it receives, it also gets the chance to see what other companies are doing.

Jerry Mainil encourages its foremen and staff to attend the show and see what changes are being made in the industry.

"It does the whole southeast oil patch a lot of good and it does Weyburn a lot of good, so it's a win-win situation," said Mainil.

TS & M Supply in Weyburn will also have a booth set up and are also looking forward to increasing their name recognition in the area oil sector.

Pete Anderson, branch manager for TS & M, said the company is already beginning to plan for the show.

"This is a way we can kind of combine getting the TS & M name out and do a little bit of advertising, plus we can pay back some of our customers," said Anderson.

TS & M will have three booth spaces which will include the products as well as refreshments and smokies for their patrons.

The company will also be bringing in staff to man the booths from stores outside of Weyburn.

Anderson said the show is "a lot of work and kind of hectic, but a lot of fun."

TS & M won't likely make any sales at the show, but Anderson said the contacts made at the show are invaluable.

The Weyburn Oil & Gas Show will get started with a setup day on Tuesday, June 3 with the show running Wednesday and Thursday, June. 4 and 5. At last report, booth spaces at the show were filling up fast, with three-quarters of the Colosseum and over 90 per cent of the outdoor spaces spoken for, along with 65 per cent of the Sports Arena.