Russian oil giant OAO Rosneft (ROSN.RS) said Monday it had signed an agreement with Italy 's Eni SpA (E) to finance exploration at three offshore fields, advancing a cooperation deal signed in April.

Eni will finance geological works at the two fields in the
Arctic and one in the Black Sea , the statement said. Eni's investment will be returned from the project's cash flows once production is launched.

State-owned Rosneft, the country's top oil producer, has signed a number of deals with foreign firms in recent months, including Exxon Mobil Corp.
(XOM) and Statoil ASA (STO), as well as Eni.