The MMS maintains a list of all platforms in Federal Waters. http://www.mms.gov/
Some platforms are very close to the coastline (~8 miles or less).
The MMS does not allow oil companies to "abandon" oil rigs as they sit in the water. They have to remove the structure and topple it to form an artificial reef or bring it to shore for dismantling.
To answer some of the other comments
All platforms have a boat dock and a +12 (deck that is around 12 feet above mean sea level) with access to the upper decks. This provides alternate means for evacuation in the event of an emergency.
You can get close to platforms in a boat if you wish but you can not leagally board the platform. Many platforms, those with a throughput greater than 100,000 barrels of oil per day, are regulated by both the MMS and the Coast Guard. So you are not just trespassing on private property but you are in violation of the Coast Guard as well.
Platforms around the US are in US waters. None that I know of, are far enough out to be called International Waters. Some are far enough out that you have to file a flight plan with the FAA or a F-15 will pay you a visit on your way back in.
While it is a nice idea, I do not see the idea of an offshore resort working because of a couple reasons
-Companies do not spend the money to maintain a platform they are about to abandon
-The cost to retrofit an offshore platform would be astronomical. (Offshore construction boat required to lift quarters or other large structures would cost over $100k a day)
-Would be costly to maintain an offshore resort. Offshore is one of the most corrosive environments there is.
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The MMS maintains a list of all platforms in Federal Waters. http://www.mms.gov/ Some platforms are very close to the coastline (~8 miles or less). The MMS does not allow oil companies to "abandon" oil rigs as they sit in the water. They have to remove the structure and topple it to form an artificial reef or bring it to shore for dismantling. To answer some of the other comments All platforms have a boat dock and a +12 (deck that is around 12 feet above mean sea level) with access to the upper decks. This provides alternate means for evacuation in the event of an emergency. You can get close to platforms in a boat if you wish but you can not leagally board the platform. Many platforms, those with a throughput greater than 100,000 barrels of oil per day, are regulated by both the MMS and the Coast Guard. So you are not just trespassing on private property but you are in violation of the Coast Guard as well. Platforms around the US are in US waters. None that I know of, are far enough out to be called International Waters. Some are far enough out that you have to file a flight plan with the FAA or a F-15 will pay you a visit on your way back in. While it is a nice idea, I do not see the idea of an offshore resort working because of a couple reasons -Companies do not spend the money to maintain a platform they are about to abandon -The cost to retrofit an offshore platform would be astronomical. (Offshore construction boat required to lift quarters or other large structures would cost over $100k a day) -Would be costly to maintain an offshore resort. Offshore is one of the most corrosive environments there is.