The Hydrocarbon Highway

The Hydrocarbon Highway by Wajid Rasheed explores the realities, challenges, and technological advancements of the modern oil and gas industry.
Written from an insider’s perspective, it presents clear and factual insight into petroleum’s indispensable role in powering modern civilization
— while also confronting the environmental, geopolitical, and economic questions surrounding it.
The book highlights how deeply oil is embedded in global development and invites readers to understand the complex path toward sustainable energy solutions.

Overview

• Part of the EPRasheed Signature Series, published in 2009.
• Bridges industry expertise and accessible writing for a wide audience — from business leaders to students.
• Examines the origins, economics, and politics of oil and gas in detail.
• Addresses critical themes such as Peak Oil, carbon emissions, resource nationalism, and renewable energy.
• Provides pragmatic insights on global energy dependence, technological innovation, and the road to transition.

Key Chapters and Themes

• Preface & Introduction – Why oil matters, how it shapes civilization, and why dependence cannot simply be wished away.
• Chapter 1: The Origin of Oil – A geological and chemical understanding of petroleum formation.
• Chapter 2: Reserves, Peak Oil and Medieval Maps – A look into global reserves, production curves, and future projections.
• Chapter 4: The Fall of the Oil Curtain – Global transparency, policy, and the economics of access to oil.
• Chapter 5: World Oil and Gas Production – Exploration, output trends, and the dominance of National Oil Companies (NOCs).
• Chapter 13: Renewable Energy – The search for sustainable alternatives and the innovations shaping the future.
• Chapter 14: Exits from the Hydrocarbon Highway – How technology and foresight can pave a more balanced energy future.

Analytical and Technical Focus

• Global oil and gas demand and supply modeling
• Geopolitics of resource ownership and access
• Advanced drilling, exploration, and production technologies
• Environmental impact and carbon reduction strategies
• Market volatility and the influence of “paper barrels”
• Energy transition and innovation toward renewables

Intended Readers

The book is written for business leaders, policy-makers, academics,
investors, and students who seek an informed understanding of global energy.
Whether approached selectively or read cover-to-cover, it offers valuable context for anyone engaged in
energy, economics, and the environment.

Download Introduction

Download Introduction (PDF)

About the Publisher

EPRasheed Media Group was an international publishing company that produced several leading energy titles,
including Saudi Oil and Gas, Brazil Oil and Gas, and tt_mg.
The company connected science, technology, and business across the global oil and gas landscape through its print editions,
conferences, and online platforms.
Although the group is no longer in operation, its publications remain an important reference in the history of energy media.

Global Presence

EPRasheed Media Group once operated editorial offices in the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad, Houston, and Brazil.
From these international hubs, the company provided wide-ranging coverage of technical advancements, policy developments,
and energy innovation across the global oil and gas industry.