Shell Norco, Louisiana refinery hydrocracker partially shut -sources

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The hydrocracker at Royal Dutch Shell Plc's 227,400 barrel-per-day (bpd) Norco, Louisiana, refinery was partially shut on Tuesday because of a malfunction, said sources familiar with plant operations.

The second stage of the 40,000-bpd hydrocracker was taken offline, the sources said. Hydrocrackers break down feedstocks, usually, gas oil to make diesel and other motor fuels. The unit's first stage continues to operate.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba, editing by Louise Heavens)