Eni says wins 32 Gulf of Mexico oil licences

MILAN, March 21 (Reuters) - Italy's Eni (ENI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) has won 32 new exploration licences in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with winning bids totalling about $114 million, the oil major said on Friday.

Eni won the licenses at Lease Sales 206 and 224, held in New Orleans on Wednesday, the company said in a statement.

Lease Sale 206 "was the most competitive in U.S. leasing history, with more than $3.7 billion received in winning bids, and the participation of 85 companies, including all oil majors", it said.

All the new leases are in Eni's core exploration areas in the Gulf of Mexico.

Of the 32 leases won, 17 were joint bids with various partners. The rest were bid for solely by Eni, who will be operator for all of the licenses, the company said.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; editing by Chris Johnson)