The performance of valves fitted with fugitive emission sealing systems is a critical consideration for operators within oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, and process plant operations. Traditionally, compression packings were simply tightened to ensure the seals were effective. This practice increases friction, reducing valve control accuracy, limiting process efficiency, and potentially leading to premature valve failure or total valve shutdown.

Thanks to extensive valve testing and qualification programmes carried out as part of Severn’s ongoing product research and development, we now have packing sets that achieve ISO 15848‑1 fugitive emissions classes A, B & C with valve processes from ‑196°C to +425°C and at pressures up to 10,000 PSI on both linear and rotary control valves.

A critical consideration is that the operation cycles required for an isolation valve to meet ISO 15848‑1 compliance can be as few as 201 cycles, while a control valve must achieve at least 20,000 cycles. This makes the reliability of the valve sealing system a significant consideration and often necessitates a specifically engineered fugitive emission packing system.

It is essential that the correct valve specification is identified from the outset. Severn’s valve application experts are on hand to support this process, drawing upon our unrivalled bank of control valve performance data, failure analysis history, and real‑world operating insight that forms part of Severn’s Repair Intelligence™ capability.

By working closely with the client and implementing over 60 years of valve engineering excellence, control valve expertise, and sealing system knowledge, Severn ensures that true application needs are identified. This guarantees that correct valve components are utilised, avoiding packing sets that are unsuitable for the operating conditions and which could otherwise lead to significant valve performance degradation and increased emissions.

Implementing these structured procedures and collaborating closely with the client helps to achieve lower fugitive emissions across the valve population, supporting clients’ commitments to environmental compliance, emissions reduction targets, and global initiatives following COP26 climate commitments.

Severn also offers the ability to utilise its significant expertise in high‑integrity valve sealing systems to retrofit existing control valves from all major OEMs, upgrading them with advanced low‑emission packing solutions without replacing the entire valve assembly.

Meeting the challenge of fugitive emissions is just one of many ways we help our clients achieve their core operational imperatives — safe operations, process efficiency, and maximum plant uptime.

If you are experiencing valve performance issues, emission compliance challenges, or sealing failures that are affecting your production capabilities, contact our control valve specialists today via the button below.

Speak to our control valve and fugitive emissions specialists to improve compliance, extend valve life, and reduce unplanned downtime.