As Wall Street continues to be pre-occupied with the subprime loan crisis, savvy investors should take a deep breath and look to the oil sector before this golden opportunity begins to erode.

"There's no question that oil companies are facing difficulties," said James DiGeorgia, editor of the Gold and Energy. "Serious problems stem from efforts to find and develop energy reserves. And, even if they're found, there's no guarantee that they'll come to market."

With this challenge on the horizon, DiGeorgia urges investors to take a look at the oil sector because the window could be closing on maximizing opportunities. In addition to the costs associated with exploration, DiGeorgia points out that political and environmental controversies also affect the ability to harvest reserves. He sites Kashagan, the huge oil field in the Caspian Sea, as an example. More than 13 billion potential barrels were found several years ago, but due to hydrogen sulfide contamination and freezing, it's unlikely they will get to market.

These factors have resulted in exploration costs going from $268 billion last year to more than $292 this year. "Our research indicates that oil will increase $5-$10 a barrel for the next several years," said DiGeorgia. "We're seeing profits falling even as oil prices flirt with record highs. Supply is going nowhere while demand globally is rising 2-3 percent a year. These factors point to the oil sector being a sound investment for the long term."