MILAN, July 26 (Reuters) - Eni could pocket

more than 8 billion euros ($8.7 billion) in net proceeds from

disposals by 2027, CEO Claudio Descalzi said on Friday after the

Italian energy group reported second-quarter results ahead of

consensus.

"We have been executing our disposal plan much faster than

anticipated," Descalzi said, speaking with analysts on a

post-result conference call.

In its updated business plan to 2027, the group said it

aimed to collect around 4 billion euros from the sale of oil and

gas assets and a similar amount from minority stake sales and

initial public offerings of its low-carbon units.

The prospects of higher proceeds from disposals and better

return for investors pushed Eni stock up more than 3% on Friday.

After reporting a smaller than expected drop in

second-quarter net profit, Eni promised to accelerate its share

buyback and hinted it may nudge it up in the coming months.

In the last few months, Eni agreed to divest upstream assets

in Alaska, created a business combination with Britain's Ithaca

spinning off its North Sea operations and moved forward

in the sale of onshore assets in Nigeria.

It also attracted the investment of Swiss fund Energy

Infrastructure Partners in retail and renewable unit Plenitude.

This week, Eni said it was entering exclusive talks to sell

up to 25% of its biofuel unit Enilive to U.S. investment firm

KKR, adding it could also dispose an additional 10% of

the unit.

"Can we go above 8 billion? ... Maybe yes," Descalzi said,

adding that the group's upstream portfolio could be the most

interesting area to look at to find more potential divestments

next year, once ongoing deals are wrapped up.

Sources told Reuters in May the group could spin off stakes

in high-potential oil and gas projects, including in Indonesia

and Ivory Coast, to help finance their development while

focusing more capital on low-carbon activities.

Such deals would expand Descalzi's strategy to split some of

Eni's operations into separate entities, or satellites, to raise

money and tap specialised investors.

So far Eni has created several satellites, including Norway

upstream group Var Energi, Angola's joint venture with

BP Azule, the combination with Ithaca and low-carbon

Plenitude and Enilive.

($1 = 0.9216 euros)