Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World (2015)

Episode Overview

By the early 1950s, the world had been significantly reshaped by the emergence of oil, plastics, and fertilizers. However, as Professor Iain Stewart explains, tensions escalated when oil-producing nations sought a larger share of profits from Western energy firms, leading to a surge in coups and military conflicts in the Middle East. In the North Sea, Prof Stewart reflects on the urgent quest to secure alternative energy supplies in its shallow, turbulent waters, as well as along America’s Gulf coast. The offshore discoveries of the 1970s revolutionized the industry, enabling the extraction of previously unfeasible oil and gas from the ocean floor. This marked a pivotal moment for Western Europe and the US, freeing them from their 20th-century energy security dilemmas.