In search of alternate procedures and raw materials to manufacture graphene oxide and graphene derivatives that could be scaled up to be industrially implemented, we have developed a simple thermal treatment of petroleum asphalt that gives rise to graphite oxide-like materials in high yield. Subsequent treatment of the oxide at higher temperature gives rise to graphene-like products similar to those obtained by conventional top-down methods based on graphite. The method offers economy in manufacturing time and energy spent, allowing the valorization of a waste material.