API-653 Exam (March 2016)

1. A party other than the owner/operator is assigned certain tasks, such as relocating and reconstructing a
tank, the limits of responsibility for each party shall be defined by the owner/operator prior to
commencing work.
2. The owner/operator as Authorized inspection agency, inspection program shall provide the controls
necessary for use by authorized inspectors contracted to inspect aboveground storage tanks.
3. Which of the following is considered to be an alteration installation of shell penetration of NPS 14 in
4. Jacking a tank shell is considered to be major repair
5. When a frangible roof-to-shell joint is required, evaluate for items impacting compliance with
requirements under API 650 includes tank bottom-to-shell joint corrosion
6. Areas in the roof that are pitted shall be evaluated to determine the likelihood of through-pitting
occurring prior to the next scheduled internal inspection
7. When service of a tank is changed from heavy stored naphta to diesel service Vents shall be inspected
for proper operation
8. L is the maximum length, in inches, over which hoop stresses are assumed to average out around local
discontinuities, this length shall be chosen to be in a vertical plan
9. L shall not exceed 40''
10. Widely scattered pits may be ignored provided that: no pit depth results in the remaining shell thickness
being less than one-half the minimum acceptable tank shell thickness exclusive of the corrosion
allowance
11. Problem for the previous criteria
12. Problem for determine H for local thin area
13. Problem for T min. For the entire shell course
14. Problem for determine St for A516 70
15. Closed Problem for determine E for a Tank built for API-12C 14th Edition. 0.85
16. Which of the following not considered Distortion of the tank shell ?tank shell out of plan tilt
17. Which of the following change in service conditions will tend to reduce the capacity of the tank?
a) Change the operating temp from 200 F to 300 F (to reduce the vapor volume of the tank resulted
from the partial pressure)
b) Change the product from G=0.9 to a lighter one with G=0.8
c) Reduce of the design metal temp.
18. Min. bottom plate thickness for Tank bottom/foundation design with no means for detection and
containment of a bottom leak is 0.1''

19. For given D, t , H what is minimum thickness of the annular plate

20. During external visual inspection, Concrete pads cracks showing evidence of spalling, but the re-bar is
not exposed your action is foundation shall be repaired. (i.e. without entire removal of the foundation
and make a new one)
21. Which of the following has the least effect on the probability of storage tank brittle fracture corrosion
rate of the shell
22. When change concerning the external pressure, the roof-to-shell junction shall be evaluated for the
effects of a design partial vacuum according to The criteria outlined in API 650
23. For brittle fracture assessment, which of the following shall consider the demonstration of hydrostatic
test?
24. Which of the following inspections can be performed with unauthorized inspector? routine inspection
25. Routine inspection interval shall not exceed one month
26. U.T measurement interval of unknown corrosion rate 5 years
27. RCA definition
28. Corrosion rate problem
29. RCA problem
30. Ground connection can be checked during the required external visual inspection API-653 6.3.2.3 (not
operation inspection)
31. A tank was built and enters the service in Jan. 2005; initial internal inspection shall be made before date
Jan.2015
32. The external visual inspection shall be every five years, when this inspection can be made before this
period, if the interval is calculated to be less than the one- fourth corrosion rate life.
33. Personnel performing C.P surveys shall be in according to the API-651
34. The best method in determining the bottom thickness Digital UT measurements.
35. UT measurements can be performed from external inspection and during internal inspection
36. Prior to conducting internal or external inspection, the inspector should thoroughly review any available
inspection records to become familiar with previous problems and recommendations noted.
37. Reports shall include recommendations for repairs and the reasons for the repairs
38. All new materials used for repair, alterations, or reconstruction shall conform to the current applicable
standard
39. The maximum liquid level for hydrostatic test shall be determined by calculate the allowable stress value
as the lesser of 3/4 yield strength or 3/7 tensile strength shall be used

40. If a corrosion allowance is required for the reconstructed tank, the required corrosion allowance shall be
deducted from the actual thickness before calculating the maximum liquid level
41. The thickness of the replacement shell plate shall not be less than the greatest nominal thickness of any
plate in the same course adjoining the replacement plate except where the adjoining plate is a thickened
insert plate
42. The repair plate may cross any butt-welded vertical or horizontal shell seams that have been ground
flush, but must overlap a minimum of 6 in. beyond the shell seam
43. Determine A in Fig 9.7 t=5/16 A=3/8
44. A new bottom may be installed through an existing tombstone reinforcing plate by remove only that
portion of the existing reinforcing plate necessary to weld and test the new bottom-to-shell weld.
44. During in service inspection the measured thickness for the shell observed to be less than 50% of min.
required thickness, in your opinion, for continued operation what is the action to be taken? Reduce the liquid
height.
45. Welded-on patch plates are not permitted in the critical zone for a carbon steel tank bottom with an
operating temperature exceeding 200 0 F
46. Arc strikes discovered in or adjacent to welded joints shall be repaired by grinding and/or welding.
47. The use of welded-on patch plates that do not meet the requirements is permitted if the repair method has
been reviewed and approved by an engineer experienced in storage tank design in accordance with API 650
48. All arc-gouged areas of the tank shell-to-bottom weld shall be magnetic particle examined, and defective
areas repaired and re-examined.
49. Hot taps are not permitted on the roof of a tank or within the gas/vapor space of the tank.
50. Completed welds of stress-relieved assemblies shall be examined by the magnetic particle or liquid
penetrant methods after stress relief, but before hydrostatic testing
51. New welding on the shell-to-bottom joint shall be examined for its entire length by using a right-angle
vacuum box and a solution film, or by applying light diesel oil
52. The minimum diagnostic length of each radiograph shall be 6 in.
53. Radiographs and radiograph records of all repaired welds shall be marked with the letter R.
54. Personnel performing PT, MT, and RT shall be qualified as well as personnel performing VB.
55. Hydrostatic Testing Exemptions if the tank owner/operator has authorized the exemption in writing.
56. Calculate the min thickness of the shell plate used for hot tapping a NPS 18'' nozzle.
57. FFS shall be performed by an engineer experienced in storage tank design and the evaluation
methodologies used.
58. For Tank Diameter 65 feet, min. number of the settlement points is 8
59. If maximum height of bulge or depth of local depression exceeds the limits shown per API 653, Repairs
or a rigorous assessment should be conducted

60.During internal inspection two flat spots have been observed with 2 in depth and 5 ft height, these spots
does not contain any weld seam, what is the action is to be taken no required repair as these spots are in the
limits
61. Settlement measured is done by an engineer experienced in settlement measurement
62. In riveted Shell Inspection, what is the best method to locate leaks? By sketch or photo
63. NDE performers should be qualified and certified according to ASNT-SNT-TC-1A
64. MFL operators shall receive training of 40 hours.
65. The sample tank bottom should be a minimum of 70 ft2
66. When qualifying either a procedure or a scanning operator, for remaining bottom thickness less than .05
the operator must be able to detect the following Flaws 90% to 100 %
67. For similar service assessment, Heavy sticky oil is as class H.
68. If the criteria for the control tank and candidate tank do not match, the difference in corrosion allowance
should be accounted for in the remaining life and inspection interval calculations to consider both tanks in
similar service.
69. Unsupervised RT examiner shall qualified to ASNT-SNT-TC-1A level 1
70. At each roof column, a wear plate with a nominal thickness of not less than 6 mm (1/4 in.) shall be
welded to the tank Bottom with a 6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum fillet weld.
80. If a drip ring is specified by the tank owner, it shall have an extension beyond bottom plate by min. 3''
81. Hardness test is important after PWHT for weld and heat affected zone to obtain acceptable softening of
the welds
82."B" back scatter letter image is rejected when it is white
83. What is the designation IQI hole type if (t=0.5" and IQI will be @ source side)?
84. Densitometers shall be calibrated by step wedge calibration film.
85. Concerning MT by using prod Tech., during calibration the unit meter, the readings shall not deviate by
more than 10% of full scale
86. How many RT films shall be taken for completed joints of a replaced rectangular portion of the tank
shell? 6 films
87. During performing vacuum box test according to API-650, Partial vacuum pressure to be registered shall
have a minimum pressure of 3 PSI.
88. When it is impractical to stress relieve at a minimum temperature of 600 C (1100 F), it is permissible
to carry out the stress-relieving operation at 1000 F for 4 hours table 5.7.4.5
89. During internal inspection which of the following methods are not reliable to obtain the bottom plate
thickness? Taking sample coupon

90. For frangible roof, fillet weld size of the top angle shall not exceed 3/16"
91. Min. Soil-to-structure potential reference to Cu / CuSo4 electrode - 850 m .v.
92. Each individual plate for which adequate identification does not exist shall be subjected to, chemical
analysis and mechanical tests including Charpy V-notch.
93. During tension test the failure of the specimen occurred away from the weld in the base metal this is an
accepted test provided that UTS not more than 5% less than UTS
94. Inorganic zinc (zinc silicates) is often applied to internal tank surfaces however it is not considered a thin
film coating according to API-653
95. High voltage detector is used for thick film holiday test
96. For reconstruction of tanks, if plate thickness is 0.5" and the climate temperature is 32 F, what is the
action is to be taken to prepare these plates for welding preheating to 140 F (warm to hand)
97. If welder is qualified for welding of plate groove it also qualified for most fillet weld
98. Low voltage detector for thin film holiday test (67.5 v)
99. Prior to energizing a new cathodic protection system, measurements of the structure-to-soil potential
should be taken.
100. The best way to determine that RT has been performed to the right procedure and applicable standard is
to demonstrate proper film density and IQI designation.
101. Hummer test is has not a beneficial method in determination of lining adhesion
102. Riveted bottom tanks can be inspected for tightness by running a thin-bladed scraper or knife along the
riveted seam
103. The best way to determine the extent of lining before repair is by visual inspection
104. The condition of anchor bolts can usually be determined by visual inspection and hummer test
105. During visual inspection the tank ground connection is observed to has electrical damage so your action
is, its resistance can be checked
106. During the external visual inspection of an insulated tank which of the following locations must receive
a more care and special attention Insulation support clips, angles, and bands.
107. The best method to measure the depth of isolated pitted area pit gauging.
108. When a floating roof is tested by volatile material inside the tank at the time of inspection, the floating
roof should be as high as possible
109. Connected Pipe outside tank and go underneath ground, the soil around pipe shall be removed and the
pipe inspected visually
110. Carbon steel and 300 Series SS have serious corrosion problems in high strength caustic solutions
above about 150F

.
111. Concerning Cl- SCC, cracking usually occurs at metal temperatures above about 140 o F.
112. Brittle fracture is usually occurring at which temperature? below the ductile to brittle transition temp.
113. Brittle fracture factors stress + susceptible material + flaws
114. An interruption of the typical structure of a material, such as a lack of homogeneity in its mechanical,
metallurgical, or physical characteristics is Discontinuity (API-577- 3.1.22)
115. Bonding (grounding) shunts shall be provided on the external floating roof and shall be located above
the uppermost seal (API-650 Annex C)
116. The permeability of the leak detection barrier shall not exceed 107 cm (4 105 mils) per sec. (API650 Annex I.2)
117-118-119 WPS PQR problems
120. The flow area of the flame arrestor can be restricted by solidification of vapors from the stored product.
121. During internal inspection accumulation of self ignition sources can be found on the tank bottom and
top of rafters
122. If tank original material of construction is A-285 and the repair organization proposed a patch plate
material of A-36 what is your opinion to complete this repair ? This repair should be approved by tank Eng.
123. A-516-70 Sd=?
124. Corrosion rate problem
125. During UT survey, the annular plate thickness was 0.2 however it was previously has an original
thickness of 0 .3'', so your assessment is? Accept the results and continue to use in service as the min.
thickness required is 0 .1 as per API-653
126. Which of the following materials are supposed to lesser the bottom under side corrosion?
127. Microbial corrosion can be found in anaerobic water spots
128. During CP survey it was observed that the soil to structure potential readings are no longer adequate,
as authorized inspector what is the action to be taken ? Faults to be found repaired and re-adjusted
129. During Hydro test for a tank shell 0.5'' thick what is the water filling rate for the lower bottom course?
(API-650 Sec.7)
130. Reports of repair include the reason of repair and
131. Usually, close visual inspection is sufficient when checking for crack -like flaws but for increased
sensitivity, liquid penetrant or magnetic particle examination should be used
132. Anchored piping inspection is important because of which of the following? It can make serious
problems during any settlement or ground movement
133. A welder is qualifying in SMAW and SAW, he weld with SMAW only, so his qualification for the
other method is valid for 6 months

134. Settlement survey shall be conducted for all existing tanks that undergo a hydrostatic test except for
tanks that have a documented service history of acceptable settlement values and no settlement is anticipated
to occur during the hydro test
135. For the purpose of surface preparation prior to lining application, the preparation procedure is as
following remove all hydrocarbon residues such as oil by Solvent cleaning and high or ultra-high pressure
water or steam cleaning, fresh water rinse then sandblasting
136. Internal corrosion of carbon steel tanks in the vapor space can be caused by hydrogen sulfide vapor,
water vapor, oxygen
137. The standard method of determining the effectiveness of cathodic protection on a tank bottom is the
tank-to soil potential measurement

For any inquiries,
Mohamed Fathy
Email: Mohamedmf@gupco.net
Mobile 01224483913