All signs point to higher oil prices. Natural gas advocate and billionaire T. Boone Pickens believes new oil discoveries can't keep up with increasing demand, which will result in higher prices.   

To make matters worse, some believe the Saudis are overstating oil reserves by a whopping 40%. These prognosticators could be wrong, but if they aren't then the days of $3.50 a gallon gasoline might soon be viewed with nostalgia. The good news is, with the right investment, you can actually profit from high gas prices.

An unconventional investment
Many energy companies are exploring for oil from unconventional sources. Extracting oil from tar sands is one such source.

Energy companies are flocking to the Canadian province of Alberta to tap the estimated 173 billion recoverable barrels of tar sands worth approximately $18.5 trillion at recent oil prices.

The biggest tar sands player is Suncor Energy (NYSE: SU). Suncor's projected tar sands production compound annual growth rate for the next three years is approximately 20%, which is substantially higher than the closest competitor. Suncor is a great way to play this unconventional oil source, but beware of an environmental backlash because tar sands extraction makes fracking appear environmentally friendly.  

What about those frackers?
Many people believe natural gas is the natural alternative to oil and coal. Rising oil prices are fueling interest in this abundant resource. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. And it's likely that U.S. natural resource reserves are understated. 

Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) potentially holds enough natural gas reserves to meet a whole year's worth of U.S. consumption. And reserves will likely increase as the company shifts focus to other potentially profitable shale plays.

ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) provides the most compelling case for natural gas. Thanks to the recent acquisition of XTO Energy, ExxonMobil now holds more natural gas than oil reserves. This is a big bet on natural gas as well as a clear signal to investors of the future trend in energy.    

A multitalented resource
The main question now becomes, where does natural gas fit in our nation's energy equation? Or does it fit at all?

Researchers at MIT released a report last June suggesting natural gas as a logical replacement for coal-fired power plants. Utility companies are realizing this as well. The Energy Information Administration projects that natural-gas-fired plants will account for 82% of new capacity in 2013, up from 42% in 2009. If such a shift occurs, natural gas utility companies such as Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) should benefit. Piedmont offers a nice dividend to boot.   

Natural gas is also gaining momentum as a cheap alternative transportation fuel. Congress recently introduced a bill offering sizable tax credits in order to jump-start the natural gas transportation industry. If the bill passes, and some believe it will, Westport Innovations (Nasdaq: WPRT) and Clean Energy Fuels (Nasdaq: CLNE) are in prime position to take advantage. Both stocks surged over the last month in anticipation this favorable legislation will pass through Congress soon.     

An energy exporter?
If we don't use our natural gas, then other nations will and natural gas exporter Cheniere Energy (AMEX: LNG) stands to benefit.

The possibility of actually exporting natural gas continues to rise as natural gas producers frantically search for customers. Last year, Cheniere obtained the necessary permits from the U.S. government to export natural gas, signaling the company will build the first plant in the lower 48 states capable of exporting the abundant resource.

The bottom line
Barring economic collapse, new highs in oil could be the new norm. Now's the time to seek some pocketbook protection by investing in stocks that could thrive in an expensive oil environment.

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