CNBC's 'THE HUNT FOR BLACK GOLD' Reported By Maria Bartiromo Premieres On Wednesday, September 24th At 9pm & 1am ET

Bartiromo Sits Down One-On-One With Sarah Palin, Governor Of Alaska And Vice Presidential Candidate, Who Is At The Center Of The Oil Debate

Original CNBC Special Investigates Big Oil's Stock Buybacks, Drilling In The Pristine Anwr And Off Americas Coasts, And Whats Going To Happen When The Oil Runs Dry

For more than 100 years we've relied on oil and now we are running out. Can we survive without it? What does that mean for big business and the American people?

On Wednesday September 24th at 9PM & 1AM ET, CNBC presents "The Hunt for Black Gold," an original one-hour documentary reported by Maria Bartiromo. CNBC, First in Business Worldwide investigates the dramatic and historic spike in oil and gas, how big American Oil companies spend those historic profits, whether big oil feels responsible for the ripple effect of high oil prices as well as what's going to happen if the country doesn't adequately prepare for that inevitable moment when crude runs out.

Bartiromo travels the world, providing a rare look inside oil infrastructure and taking viewers to some of the most remote and valuable places on the planet-Alaska's North Slope and the Gulf of Mexico-two critical areas in the national oil debate.

Bartiromo interviews Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and Senator McCain's Vice Presidential pick, who is at the center of the oil debate. Palin discusses the hot button issues such as drilling in the pristine ANWR, breaking the grip foreign oil holds on America as well as her thoughts about Senator Obama and Senator Biden's naivete about renewable energy feeding hungry markets.

Bartiromo also speaks with the men who run the most profitable companies in the history of the United States including a rare sit-down interview with ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva where he talks about feeding global thirst, finding oil in troubled spots around the globe and delicately balancing the relationships with leaders in Venezuela, Russia, Iran, Libya and China as well as what's at stake when those relationships fail. Bartiromo also interviews the people who believe these new oil baron's days are numbered.

"The Hunt for Black Gold" also looks at the peak oil theory: How much oil is left? Is the planet running dry? Some of the foremost experts say yes.

And finally, the one-hour special examines alternative and renewable energy including solar, wind and hybrid electric cars. Which ones are viable and how are the oil giants positioned to deal with the inevitable transformation?

For more information including web extras and extended video clips, log onto http://huntforblackgold.cnbc.com.

"The Hunt for Black Gold" will re-air on Sunday, September 28th at 10PM ET on CNBC.

Maria Bartiromo is the co-anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell" (3PM-4PM ET), anchor of "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo" (4PM-5PM ET) and host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated "Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo."

Rich Carolan is the executive producer of "The Hunt for Black Gold." Jeff Pohlman is the senior producer and writer. Jamie Corsi is the field producer and Lulu Chiang is the senior booker. Jonathan Wald is the senior vice president, Business News at CNBC.