Platform Holly Heliport serves Ellwood, US.
Platform Holly Heliport (US-9793) is an integral part of Platform Holly, an offshore oil platform located two miles off the coast of Goleta, near Ellwood, US.
The heliport, along with the entire Platform Holly, ceased operations in 2015 following the Refugio oil spill, which ruptured a pipeline critical for transporting oil from the platform to onshore facilities. This event led to the bankruptcy of Venoco, the platform's owner, and the subsequent transfer of the platform to the California State Lands Commission in April 2017.
Installed in 1966 by ARCO, Platform Holly operated for nearly five decades, playing a significant role in oil and gas production in the Santa Barbara Channel. It is also famously associated with Jim Morrison of The Doors, who legendarily wrote "The Crystal Ship" while observing the platform. Currently, the State of California is managing the decommissioning of Platform Holly, with well plugging operations completed as of September 2024. The future of the site is under consideration, with options including complete removal or partial removal to preserve the platform's submerged structure, which has become a thriving artificial reef supporting diverse marine life.
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Where is Platform Holly Heliport located?
Platform Holly Heliport is located in Ellwood, US, at an elevation of 87 ft. Its IATA code is — and ICAO code is US-9793.