Feb 19 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday gave finalapproval to Transocean's $1 billion civil settlement related toBP Plc's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier signed the agreement,according to the court document filed in federal court in NewOrleans.
Transocean, which employed nine of the 11 workers killed inthe accident, reached a $1.4 billion agreement to settlecriminal and civil charges with the U.S. government in January.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo acceptedTransocean's guilty plea for violating the U.S. Clean Water Actalong with a $400 million criminal fine for its role in thedisaster at BP's Macondo well.
Transocean must still seek a settlement with the plaintiffscommittee representing more than 100,000 individuals andbusiness owners claiming economic and medical damages, so theultimate cost of Macondo to Transocean could end up beinghigher.
BP is slated to go to trial in federal court in New Orleanson Monday on civil claims stemming from the spill.
BP (BP.)