The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex is home to Shell Oil Products US (Refining) and Shell Chemicals. The Refinery is designed to convert approximately 250,000 barrels per day of “medium sweet” crude oil. Chemicals manufactures ethylene, propylene and butadiene that are used to make many different everyday materials and end products.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shell Norco products are transported via ships, pipelines, barges, trucks and railcars.
Daily capacities are:
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
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
The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex has four docks located on the Mississippi River.
Rochelle Touchard
External Relations Manager
Office Phone: 504 465 6667
Cellular Phone: 504 416 6190
Mailto: rochelle.touchard@shell.com
Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex
15536 River Road
Norco, LA 70079
504 465 7111
Post Office Box 10
Norco, LA 70079
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