Shell Narco manufactureing complex

The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex is located in Norco, Louisiana next to the Mississippi River, about 20 miles west of New Orleans in St. Charles Parish on nearly 1,000 acres of land.

Early history

In 1916, the New Orleans Refining Company purchased 366 acres of sugar cane field from the Goodhope Plantation to establish a marine petroleum supply terminal. In 1920, the New Orleans Refining Company began refining oil and thus the name of the town – Norco. The Shell Petroleum Corporation, a forerunner of Shell Oil Company, acquired the Norco Refinery in 1929. The chemical plant was added in 1955.

Recent history (post 1990 developments)

In 1998, a merger with Texaco and Saudi Aramco made the refining and chemical business officially separate; Shell Norco Refining Company became a division of Motiva Enterprises. In 2002, Texaco exited the merger and Motiva Enterprises became a 50/50 joint venture between Shell and Saudi Aramco. In 2004, the West Site Chemical Operations leased to Resolutions Performance (Hexion). The lease with Hexion ended and W.R. Grace is currently leasing a portion of the site. Following the Motiva joint venture separation, in May 2017, Shell assumed full ownership of the Norco Refinery.

Workforce

Approximately 1200 employees staff the Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex. The workforce includes: Process Operators, Machinists, Instrument Mechanics, Electricians, Insulators, Pipefitters, Welders, Equipment Operators, Chemists, Engineers, Drafting, Financial, Environmental/Safety, Technology, Inspectors, Security, Administration, Training, Procurement, Human Resources and Communications professionals. In addition, there is a daily average of 1000+ contractors onsite to support the businesses.

What we make

Shell Refinery produces Gasoline (premium and regular grades, unleaded), Jet-A aviation fuel, Ultra Low Sulfur diesel, liquefied petroleum gases (i.e. propane, propylene, isobutane), and anode grade coke.

Shell Chemicals manufactures ethylene, propylene and butadiene to sell to other manufacturers for use in the production of antifreeze, tires, plastic food containers, trash bags, laundry detergent, cosmetics, adhesive, coatings, and film as well as hundreds of other consumer and industrial materials and products.

How we transport it

Shell Norco products are transported via ships, pipelines, barges, trucks and railcars.

Production capacity

Daily capacities are:

Refinery:

Crude: 250,000 barrels (10.1 million gallons) processed daily
Gasoline: 170,000 barrels (7.1 million gallons) produced daily total regular and premium grades
Jet-A aviation fuel: 44,000 barrels (1.9 million gallons) produced daily
Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel: 95,000 barrels (4.0 million gallons) produced daily
Anode grade coke: 1,000 tons produced daily

Chemicals:

Ethylene: 3.33 billion lbs/yr
Propylene: 1.44 billion lbs/yr
Butadiene: 0.35 billion lbs/yr
Aromatic Feedstocks: 0.84 billion lbs/yr

Dock facilities

The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex has four docks located on the Mississippi River.

Contact persons

Rochelle Touchard
External Relations Manager
Office Phone: 504 465 6667
Cellular Phone: 504 416 6190
Mailto: rochelle.touchard@shell.com

Physical address

Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex
15536 River Road
Norco, LA 70079
504 465 7111

Mailing Address

Post Office Box 10
Norco, LA 70079

Norco fact sheet

Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Program

Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Program

The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex conducts bi-weekly passive sampling along the facility property boundary for the target analyte of benzene. The passive samples are collected and analyzed in accordance with Methods 325A and 325B of Appendix A to 40 CFR Part 63.

Shell NORCO Benzene Monitoring