Most really aren't this close to the coast anymore as that easy stuff was found about 50 years ago.
But all of the platforms can easily withstand tropical storm winds.
The ones that are still there will probably go ahead and remove all but essential personnel just to be safe, but the oil industry basically does overkill to be safe.
The truth is you'd be fine on an oil platform during a Category 1 storm. Those things are anchored and won't budge.
Tropical Storm Edouard Special Discussion Number 2
Statement as of 6:00 PM EDT on August 03, 2008
when the reconnaissance aircraft passed through the convection to
the southeast of the center a short time ago...it found maximum
flight level winds of 54 kt and a surface pressure of 1002 mb...a
drop of 5 mb in an hour and a half. These data indicate that the
depression has strengthened into the fifth tropical storm of the
season.
This special advisory updates the initial and forecast intensity of
the tropical cyclone. Edouard is now expected to be near hurricane
intensity at landfall...with the official forecast between the GFDL
and SHIPS guidance.
Forecast positions and Max winds
initial 03/2200z 28.1n 88.0w 40 kt
12hr VT 04/0600z 28.2n 89.4w 45 kt
24hr VT 04/1800z 28.4n 91.5w 50 kt
36hr VT 05/0600z 28.9n 93.8w 60 kt
48hr VT 05/1800z 29.5n 96.2w 45 kt...inland
72hr VT 06/1800z 30.5n 100.5w 20 kt...remnant low
96hr VT 07/1800z...dissipated
$$
forecaster Franklin/Blake
Good info. Thanks.
Diamond Offshore's Ocean Warwick jackup washed up onto Dauphin Island, Alabama, far from its original location. (Katrina)
Battering of US GOM structures brings discussion of standards
BTW, notice how the oil/gas rigs cease just at the edge of the Alabama state line. There's lots of oil/gas on over to the east off the Florida coast too.