But even with all that cash, energy executives cannot simply snap their fingers and bring on more supplies to meet strong demand.

"Most energy executives then were starting to worry that production was not meeting expectations," he said.

Falling oil prices have sobered energy executives and government officials in Caspian countries.

But to do so probably will require selling off most, if not all, of what the company still owns, industry analysts and energy executives said.

But energy executives do not expect much movement there until the violence in the country subsides.

But the negotiations are not all about money, say bankers and energy executives involved.

He also criticized the vice president for conducting secret meetings with energy executives.

Last week, another energy executive was also reported to have disappeared.

Some energy executives say the banks are growing rich on the backs of battered companies that they helped push to the brink.

Even in the early stages of Bush's 2000 run, energy executives understood what strong support of a winning candidate could mean.