Each rise in the price of oil and its companion hike in gasoline prices moves us further and further into uncharted territory. What was once an academic argument over peak oil and how long our oil and gas would last is now front page news. There is now a very public debate raging over whether new areas of 's coastline should be opened to exploration. It seems likely that new areas will be leased. But from there the crystal ball gets a little murky. What areas might be opened and when? How long will it take to do the initial surveys of these undersea areas and what will we find? For the workboat industry and its customers, this period of uncertainty will bring its own questions.