Repsol and Indra develop Heads, a system for detecting hydrocarbon leaks in the aquatic environment

The Heads system, which has already been tested at the Repsol Industrial Complex in Tarragona, uses different detection sensors that allow the automatic interpretation of the images captured by infrared cameras and radars.

Repsol E Indra have developed a system for the early detection of hydrocarbon leaks in the aquatic environment that will contribute to increasing the safety of the energy company's facilities. The system, called Heads (Hydrocarbon Early and Automatic Detection System), has already been tested at the Repsol Industrial Complex in Tarragona, including the Casablanca platform.

Heads uses different detection sensors, adding automatic interpretation of infrared and radar images, as well as the launching of alarms without human intervention. The combined use of infrared images and radars maximizes the degree of reliability. and process automation allows continuous monitoring without the intervention of an operator, minimizing the risk of human error.

Radar detection is based on the difference in roughness on the surface of the water when there is presence of a hydrocarbon. With the infrared camera, temperature variations between water and hydrocarbon that are caused by the differences between the calorific properties of both elements are detected..

The system has a console located in a control room, where different operations such as drilling are monitored, Production, cargo or security.

When Heads detects an incident, in addition to activating the alarm automatically, is able to collect all associated information and record and analyze all related parameters.

Another important feature of Heads is its ability to identify ships in the vicinity using AIS. (Automatic Identification System). The objective of the AIS system is to allow ships to communicate their position and other relevant information so that other ships or stations can know it and avoid possible incidents. In this way, if an incident occurs caused by a ship within its radius of action, Heads is able to identify you and monitor the event.

In addition to increasing the level of reliability of detection against any type of incident that happens on the water surface, both day and night, even in adverse weather conditions with rain or fog, Heads has a response time of less than two minutes, minimizing the impact and acting faster to fix it.

Combining experience and technology

Repsol has made available to the Heads project its knowledge of physical phenomena related to hydrocarbons and the marine environment, and its experience in the exploration and production of crude oil in the most demanding areas of the planet.

The company has also contributed all the technology from its Repsol Technology Center, which has a laboratory capable of reproducing the weather conditions that occur on the high seas.

Indra, for his part, has contributed his knowledge in image interpretation algorithms and his experience in the development of real-time data processing, construction and use of radars and infrared cameras and command and control centres.

The multinational also has extensive experience in the development and implementation of technological solutions for the hydrocarbons sector, in which it is present worldwide with 1.500 professionals and projects in the five continents.

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