About Shell Deer Park
At Deer Park Chemicals, we power progress by providing the building blocks that make everyday products and are the solutions for our future, all from the historic birthplace of Texas.
Overview
Just before the Great Depression, Shell became the first manufacturer to call Deer Park home in 1929. At that time, Deer Park had no other businesses or buildings in what is now a bustling community about 20 miles east of downtown Houston.
The original 800-acre site was carefully chosen for its location along the Houston Ship Channel. In the 1940s, Shell added a chemical plant that it continues to own and operate today.
The site operates 24 hours a day and is a unique combination of processing equipment, control rooms, storage tanks, environmental protection equipment, office buildings, shops and warehouses – all run by highly skilled, well-trained and experienced employees.
The plant makes very few final consumer products. Instead, it manufactures base chemicals or raw material chemicals and sells them to other chemical companies that turn them into thousands of consumer products. Our chemicals enable a higher standard of living for those who use our products. We strive to power progress in communities across the country – every day.
Shell Deer Park’s location near major products pipelines and dock facilities is one of its most important assets. This provides the site with numerous transportation advantages and significantly increases efficiency when delivering or receiving products. Most chemicals from Deer Park are shipped via pipelines, but the site also uses ships, barges, rail cars and trucks to supply customers in the U.S. and foreign countries.
Key chemical plant business categories include:
- Light Olefins – ethylene, propylene and butylenes for plastics, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, antifreeze, detergents, etc
- Heavy Olefins – isoprene, butadiene and piperylene for latex paints, adhesives, tapes, wire coating, synthetic rubbers, ink, etc.
- Phenol – phenol and acetone for plastics, wood preservatives, dyes, antiseptic products, agricultural chemicals and other products.
Inside our operations
Safety & Environment
Safety & Environment
Protecting the health, safety and security of everyone at Shell Deer Park Chemicals – in addition to our community neighbors – remains our highest priority.
The site designs, builds, operates and maintains process units and other pieces of equipment so they protect the safety of employees, contractors, vendors and members of the community. The chemical plant has earned The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification for its environmental management systems.
At Shell Deer Park, our safety plan for achieving Goal Zero is built on a foundation of engagement, assurance and learning. To achieve continuous improvement in this area, we are committed to site-wide employee engagements on personal and process safety.
Employees share a common belief that the site can prevent all accidents, occupational illness and personal injuries through the commitment of the entire workforce. Shell Deer Park has 24-hour emergency response as well as ongoing programs to verify that we meet or exceed all required regulatory and company standards.
Strengthening our Safety Culture
We are working to keep our employees and contractors safe by focusing on compliance and tackling the cultural issues that can lead to unsafe behavior. Our Goal Zero program and supporting company-wide initiatives are helping to strengthen our safety culture.
Read more about strengthening our safety culture
Safety in Shell | Brochures
We have a comprehensive set of business principles and rigorous standards covering health, safety, security, the environment and social performance. Our approach to safety includes ensuring that our facilities are well designed and maintained, and that our operations are safe and reliable. In the event of an incident, we follow strict emergency response procedures.
Access a library of brochures covering principles and standards
Health, Safety, Security & Environment Policy Statement
Our vision is to be the best Health, Safety, Security & Environment performer in the petrochemical industries.
Download the latest statement (PDF, 353 kB)
Site Quality Policy
Our commitment to manage our business, including quality, to meet our commitments.
Download Quality Policy (PDF, 242 kB)
Houston Air Quality Web Site
Data and information about Houston's air quality in an easy to understand format, resources to learn more.
