The U.S. settled disputes with 3 oil companies.

The companies have agreed to pay a total of $516.2 million to settle government charges that they violated oil price controls, the department said. The money will be refunded to overcharge victims by the Energy Department. The department’s Economic Regulatory Administration said it signed tentative agreements with Gulf Oil for $142 million and Atlantic Richfield for $65.7 million. It also said that it signed a final agreement with Standard Oil of Indiana under which the company today paid $308.5 million to cover overcharges on crude oil sales. Public hearings are still to be held before the Gulf and Atlantic Richfield settlements become final. All three settlements cover sales during the time of oil price controls. President Reagan ended such controls in January, 1981.