In natural gas processing plants across Hassi R’Mel and Skikda, Algeria, instrumentation lines are the nervous system of the entire facility. These small-bore tubes connect main process lines to pressure transmitters, gas analyzers, and emergency shutdown valves. While the tubing itself is small, it carries volatile gases at extreme pressures. A pinhole leak in an instrumentation fitting doesn’t just ruin pressure readings—it creates a severe explosion hazard.
You cannot weld small-bore instrumentation tubing on a live gas unit, and standard threaded pipe fittings are notorious for leaking gas through the thread sealant under thermal cycling. To achieve a permanent, gas-tight seal without welding, Algerian petrochemical engineers rely on double ferrule instrumentation fittings.
A single-ferrule fitting attempts to both bite into the tube and seal against the fitting body with one ring, which often fails when exposed to compressor vibration. Kemlite’s double ferrule design separates these two critical jobs between a front ferrule and a back ferrule:
- The Front Ferrule: When you tighten the nut, the larger front ferrule is pushed forward into the tapered body of the fitting. It swages down onto the outside diameter of the tube, creating a massive, leak-proof gas seal.
- The Back Ferrule: As the nut advances, the hardened back ferrule hinges inward, biting directly into the wall of the tubing. This mechanical grip locks the tube in place so high pressure cannot blow it out, while isolating the front seal from line vibration.
Because North African gas fields frequently deal with sour gas ($H_2S$) and corrosive condensates, material purity is non-negotiable. We manufacture our instrumentation and tube fittings in SS 316, 316L, Duplex steel, and exotic alloys like Monel 400 and Hastelloy C-276. Furthermore, every batch is backed by full Mill Test Certificates (MTC) so your quality control engineers know the exact chemical composition before installation. Pair our double ferrule fittings with our precision-drawn seamless instrumentation tubes to guarantee zero fugitive emissions across your plant.
