By Arathy Somasekhar and Georgina McCartney

HOUSTON, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary

Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum discussed

everything from raising domestic oil output to opportunities in

Venezuela with energy executives in Houston on Sunday amid the

world's worst supply disruption, due to the U.S.-Israeli war on

Iran.

The meeting took place over dinner on the eve of the annual

CERAWeek energy conference, where executives of major energy

companies, oil ministers and members of the Organization of the

Petroleum Exporting Countries are gathering to discuss the state

of the industry.

Oil prices have soared to multi-year highs above $100 a

barrel after Iran effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz,

the key trade route for roughly 20% of the world's oil and gas

flows.

Attacks on energy infrastructure in the region have caused

long-term damage that means even if the strait reopens, it will

be years before supplies return to pre-war levels.

"We discussed the oil and gas markets and there was

speculation on how long the strait could be closed. There was no

consensus on how long this could be. Everyone realizes this is

the most disruptive and most unusual time in energy markets than

there's ever been before. And everyone has to adjust," said Bob

Dudley, former CEO of BP and chairman of the Oil and Gas Climate

Initiative.

The two U.S. officials were "basically trying to make their

case: 'This is why we need your support, and this and this and

this from Venezuela to Iran,'" Dudley said. "But the U.S. is

absolutely committed to doing what needs to be done: open the

straits, with or without European help."

Secretary Wright, when exiting, told reporters energy was

discussed, but declined to elaborate further. A senior

administration official, who declined to comment on the record,

said the possibility of raising U.S. oil production was also

discussed.

Sunday's dinner at The Grove restaurant in downtown Houston

has become a tradition of the conference, convening the key

leaders in the oil industry, which in the past have included

energy ministers from OPEC and shale executives.

This year's gathering was not confined to oil industry

leaders, with a more expansive list of attendees that included

coal and power executives, underscoring the growing importance

of power generation as demand from data centers explodes.

Toby Neugebauer, co-founder and CEO of power company Fermi

America, Ernie Thrasher, CEO of Xcoal, and Lorenzo

Simonelli, CEO of oilfield services firm Baker Hughes ( BKR )

were among those who attended.

The war with Iran has shown no signs of letting up, even after

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering

winding down operations. Trump said on Saturday the U.S. would

attack Iranian power plants if the strait did not open in 48

hours.

Iran said it would respond to any such action with attacks

on Gulf energy systems and water treatment facilities.

U.S. gasoline prices have jumped nearly 30% since the war

started at the end of February and are nearing $4 a gallon,

creating a potential problem for Trump ahead of the mid-term

elections in November. Average diesel prices have climbed to

over $5 a gallon.

"I think there is a great effort being put forward to

minimize destruction to the infrastructure, but no one knows

what the end result will be," Thrasher, of Xcoal, said after the

dinner.

"My big takeaway is we're in a very volatile time, a lot of

uncertainty, but a strong belief that there is a pathway through

the challenges to supply the energy the world needs - but there

is no quick fix."