	u s energy secretary sees higher oil prices energy secretary donald hodel said he expects oil prices to rise significantly by the year probably to around dlrs a barrel in current dollars i do anticipate a significant increase by thirty three dlrs a barrel is not unreasonable hodel told the senate energy committee hodel said the loss of some domestic oil production through the shutdown of stripper barrels a day or less wells because of low prices was probably permanent he said he was also concerned by the decline in domestic oil exploration hodel urged congress to approve oil exploration in section of the arctic national wildlife refuge in alaska he said geologic condtions in the area were favorable for the discovery of oil fields equal to those in nearby prudhoe bay reuter 
