Shell Global You are in: Shell Global About us Our major projects Port Arthur Refinery PORT ARTHUR REFINERY Expanded in 2012, the Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur Refinery (PAR) in Texas, USA, has a capacity of 600,000 bbl/d, making it the largest refinery in North America. Shell owns 50% of Motiva; the remaining 50% is owned by Saudi Aramco. Key facts Location: Gulf of Mexico, USA Category: Complex refinery Interest: Shell 50%, Saudi Aramco 50% A five-year expansion project at Port Arthur Refinery completed in 2012 more than doubled the facility’s daily processing capacity, from 275,000 to 600,000 barrels of crude oil. Technology The expanded refinery is capable of handling most grades of crude, even the lowest quality. A three-unit naphtha processing complex includes a catalytic reformer which converts 85,000 b/d into high octane gasoline for blending. The scale of the expansion included 725 pumps, 19 compressors, 514 heat exchangers and several new tanks. Economic development and society At Port Arthur, where the local community supported the expansion, more than $17 billion has been generated in regional economic development. Around 14,500 people worked on the expansion project at peak construction and more than 300 new permanent jobs were created. Strategies were implemented that improved public infrastructure and reduced the impact of construction on local communities. Markets Shell has the largest branded fuels retailing network in the USA. The Port Arthur expansion is delivering increased supplies of petrol (gasoline), diesel and aviation fuel nationally as well as for export to other countries. The refinery’s strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico coast allows crude oil to be brought in by sea, and it has excellent links to the national fuel distribution network. Share this DISCOVER MORE Download the Port Arthur Refinery page as PDF Visit Motiva Enterprises’ Port Arthur Refinery page to learn more MORE IN ABOUT US Our major projects Shell’s major projects show our technology and expertise in action. Mars B Mars B adds new infrastructure to help boost production at the Mars field in the Gulf of Mexico. Who we are What we do Our values Leadership Major projects The Shell brand Events Contact us YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN The energy future How will the world produce more, cleaner energy to power our homes and cities, and fuel our vehicles in decades to come? Overcoming technology challenges We develop innovative technologies to find and safely unlock more, and affordable, energy from ever harder-to-reach places. Technical careers Human solutions to global challenges: find out how you can develop your career in our technical teams. Connect with us More about Shell Who we are What we do Our values Leadership Our major projects The Shell brand Can we help? Job search for professionals Shell station locator Shell credit cards Social media Shell apps Shell Global Helpline Site information Accessibility Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookie policy Fraud and scam alert Contact us