FACTBOX: What next in plummeting U.S.-Venezuelan ties?

(Reuters) - U.S.-Venezuela ties plunged to their lowest point in years on Friday as the superpower and one of its top oil suppliers ejected each other's ambassadors.

The United States also imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials, and leftist President Hugo Chavez threatened to stop selling crude to his main customer.

Here are some possible scenarios of how the relations could proceed:

STATUS QUO

Chavez could feel that for now he has gone far enough in stirring a crisis in a Venezuelan election year and may avoid escalating the dispute with any new retaliatory measures.

The United States could also calculate that fresh moves of its own would provoke Chavez to cut oil supply at a time when U.S. voters ahead of the presidential election are concerned about high oil prices.

DIPLOMATIC TIES

Chavez could cut formal diplomatic relations with the United States, recalling all of his diplomats. That would possibly trigger a tit-for-tat move from Washington.

In a diplomatic dispute with U.S. ally Colombia earlier this year, Chavez broke off ties and said they would not be restored until President Alvaro Uribe left office. Within months, he had made up with his neighbor and ties were fully re-established.

Chavez said he will not send an ambassador to Washington before Bush leaves office in January.

OIL SUPPLY

Chavez could cut off oil supplies to the United States. That would send oil prices higher, at least initially, but industry analysts say it could hurt Venezuela more than the United States.

Venezuela cannot quickly find new customers for its sludgy crude that is taken at U.S. refineries that have been specially-developed to upgrade its quality.

For years, Chavez has issued conditional threats that he could stop selling crude to America -- his biggest customer. On Thursday, he said if he were to do so, world oil prices would double to above $200 a barrel.

Chavez has diversified his oil customers in recent years, particularly increasing supply to China. He says the move is to shield the country from economic fallout should he ever feel obliged to stop U.S. sales.

Still, generally, Chavez has been a reliable oil supplier to the United States despite tensions.