Operating profit was up 33.6 percent at 16.11 billion euros while revenues gained 18 percent at 98.36 billion euros.

In the fourth quarter alone, net profit leapt 40.2 percent to 548 million euros, while net adjusted profit rose by 23.6 percent to 1.72 billion, well above expectations of analysts who had predicted 1.57 billion euros.ENI said the better results were largely down to the gains in the price of oil and the appreciation of the dollar.