UPDATE 1-Eni says to appeal any EU fine on TAG

* CEO says to appeal any fine

* CEO says confident dispute will be settled

(Adds details, background)

TRIESTE, Italy, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Italian oil group Eni SpA (ENI.MI) will appeal any fine it receives over an EU antitrust probe into the TAG pipeline, which transports Russian gas through Austria to Italy, Eni's chief executive said on Friday.

However, Paolo Scaroni said he was confident the dispute could be settled with "the satisfaction of Brussels".

On Friday, sources close to the issue said Eni was studying the possible sale of TAG to settle the case. Eni declined to comment on this.

European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has asked Eni to sell TAG, which is 89 percent-controlled by Eni and seen as strategic by both the company and the Italian government, as part of a probe dating from 2007 into restrictive pipeline practices.

(Reporting by Giancarlo Navach; editing by Simon Jessop)