Study Sheets

Based on API 653 Exam Information

The following is a collection of questions remembered by various students who took the API 653
Exam in the past.

This study sheet is designed to help a student prepare for the API 653 Exam. Read each
question carefully and select the best answer by circling your choice. After selection of your
answer, write in the section number and publication in which your answer was found. Look up each
question in the reference publications listed below; remember, this exercise is to help you to learn
to use the reference material. Generally, the assignment is broken into several sections. Each
section should take approximately one hour to complete. Answers will be discussed at the
beginning of class the following morning.

The answers will be found in the following reference publications:

API 650, Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage, Tenth Edition, November, 1998, including
Addendum 1 (January, 2000), Addendum 2 (November, 2001), and Addendum 3
(September, 2003).
API RP 651, Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks, Second
Edition, December, 1997
API RP 652, Lining of Above Ground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms, Second
Edition, December, 1997
API 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration and Reconstruction, Third Edition,
December, 2001, including Addendum 1 (September, 2003).
API 2015, Safe Entry and Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks, Sixth Edition, August, 2001.
API 2207, Preparing Tank Bottoms for Hot Work, Fifth Edition, September, 1998
API RP 575, Inspection of Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks, First Edition,
November, 1995

ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, 2001 Edition, with 2002 and 2003 Addenda
Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7 and 23 (Section SE-797
only)
Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications

AP I 6 5 3 E xa m P re p H o m e w o rk Q u e s tio n s P a ge 1
51. The letter B is placed on radiographic film holder for what reason?

a. To determine if back scatter radiation is exposing the film.

b. To show the distance from the source of radiation to the weld.
c. To function as a location marker for the radiograph.
d. To designate whether the penetrameter is on the film side or the back side.

Section: Reference Publication:

52. A tanks bottom course has corroded in a general uniform manner (including the
welds). The tanks diameter is 137 and its height is 40 (5-eight foot courses). The liquid
stored in the tank is hydrocarbon with a specific gravity of 0.82 and it is not corrosive. The
tank was constructed from ASTM A-283, Grade C (A 283M, Grade C) carbon steel.
Determine the minimum thickness of the bottom course for full height operation. Round to
the nearest hundredth. (This tank was built to API 650, Eighth edition).

a. 0.805
b. 0.691
c. 0.200
d. 0.483

Section: Reference Publication:

53. When preparing to enter a storage tank for inspection, the most important thing to do
is .

a. obtain a written entry permit

b. to have all equipment needed for inspection ready and available
c. to be wearing protective clothing
d. to check all platforms and ladders for serviceability

Section: Reference Publication:

54. A tank course made from 3/4 plate is welded with low hydrogen electrodes. The
welder undercuts a horizontal butt weld to a depth of 0.02 and he reinforces the weld with a
0.20 reinforcement.

a. The weld is acceptable

b. The weld is unacceptable because of the excess undercut
c. The weld is unacceptable because of the excess reinforcement
d. The weld is unacceptable because of the excess reinforcement and excess
undercut

Section: Reference Publication:

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55. What is the inspection frequency for flame arrestors?

a. 2 years
b. 5 years
c. 10 years
d. Annually

Section: Reference Publication:

56. How many tensile tests are required to qualify a 1/4 plate groove weld?

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 6

Section: Reference Publication:

57. The minimum bottom plate thickness for a tank with an applied reinforced lining
greater than 0.05 thick, applied in accordance with API RP 652, is inch.

a. 0.10
b. 0.05
c 0.125
d. 0.0625

Section: Reference Publication:

58. The oxygen content for non-permit required confined space must be __________.

a. 0 - 10%
b. 10% - 15%
c. 19.5% - 23.5%
d. 25.2% - 32.7%

Section: Reference Publication:

59. The acceptance criteria for a radiograph of a tank repair weld is found in .

a. Section V of the ASME Code

b. Section IX of the ASME Code
c. Section VIII of the ASME Code
d. ASNT SNT-TC-1A

Section: Reference Publication:

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60. All leaks in pontoons or compartments of double deck floating roofs shall be repaired
by .

a. caulking the leaking joints and/or using soft patch material

b. rewelding the leaking joints and/or the use of patch plates
c. cutting out the leaking area and flush patching
d. weld overlay any cracks and/or use soft patch material

Section: Reference Publication:

61. For what diameter tank is the variable point method for calculating shell thickness
mandatory?

a. Tanks with a diameter of 200 feet and greater

b. Tanks with a diameter greater than 300 feet
c. Tanks with a diameter greater than 200 feet
d. Tanks with a diameter of 300 feet and greater

Section: Reference Publication:

62. What is the minimum lifting power of an AC electromagnetic yoke used in magnetic
particle inspection?

a. 40 pounds lifting power at the maximum pole spacing

b. 10 pounds lifting power at the maximum pole spacing
c. 10 amps lifting power at the maximum pole spacing
d. 30 pounds lifting power at the minimum pole spacing

Section: Reference Publication:

63. What is the allowable edge settlement of a 100 diameter tank that has an area of
settlement that starts to slope 36 from the shelland the bottom lap weld is approximately
parallel to the shell?

a. 13.32
b. 3.75
c 18.5
d. 2.22

Section: Reference Publication:

64. A tank was constructed from welded ASTM A-516, Grade 60 (A 516M, Grade 415) steel.
The third course must be evaluated for continued service. What is the allowable stress that
must be used in the calculations?

a. 21,300 psi
b. 25,560 psi
c. 28,200 psi
d. 28,320 psi

Section: Reference Publication:

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65. A 125 diameter X 40 high storage tank has questionable thickness annular plates.
The first shell course thickness is .61. The thickness of the corrosion allowance for the tank is
0.125. The product specific gravity is less than 1. What is the minimum thickness for the
annular plate?

a. 0.17
b. 0.20
c. 0.325
d. 0.295

Section: Reference Publication:

66. The principal advantage of thin-film linings are .

a. better protection of older storage tank bottoms and ease of application

b. less susceptible to mechanical damage and easier to repair
c. lower cost and not as sensitive to pitting
d. lower cost and ease of application compared to thick-film coating
systems

Section: Reference Publication:

67. In no case shall the internal inspection interval of an aboveground storage tank
exceed _____ years, if an RBI program is not in place.

a. 5
b. 10
c. 20
d. 25

Section: Reference Publication:

68. Welders are qualified to what standard or code?

a. Section VIII of the ASME Code

b. Section V of the ASME Code
c. Section I of the ASME Code
d. Section IX of the ASME Code

Section: Reference Publication:

69. What is the maximum acceptable undercut of a nozzle to shell weld?

a. 1/64
b. 1/32
c. 1/16
d. 1/8

Section: Reference Publication:

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70. The nameplate for a reconstructed tank shall be attached to the tank shell adjacent to
.

a. the existing nameplate

b. a manway in bottom tank course
c. the stairway or ladder to the tank roof
d. the door sheet

Section: Reference Publication:

71. When a welder has not welded with a process during a period of _____, his
qualifications for that process shall expire.

a. 3 months or more
b. 6 months or more
c. 9 months or more
d. 12 months or more

Section: Reference Publication:

72. What allowable stress is used in evaluating a riveted joint when using joint efficiencies
given in Table 4-3 of API 653?

a. 16,000 psi
b. 18,000 psi
c. 19,000 psi
d. 21,000 psi

Section: Reference Publication:

73. Radiographs of repaired work and records of radiographs of repaired work shall be
marked with .

a. a grease pencil
b. the mark of the welder who made the repair
c. the letter R
d. the initial of the inspector

Section: Reference Publication:

74. The transmitted film density through the radiographic image of the body of the
appropriate hole penetrameter and the area of interest shall be _____ minimum for
radiographs made with a gamma ray source.

a. 1.8
b. 2.0
c. 2.2
d. 2.6

Section: Reference Publication:

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75. A tank has a corroded area on its second course. It is elliptical in shape with the major
axis parallel to the horizontal weld seam. The major axis dimension is 35 and the vertical
minor axis is 21. The tank diameter is 127 and its height is 40 (5-eight foot courses). The
minimum thickness measured in the corroded area is 0.52. The general thickness of the
second course (away from the corroded area) is 0.75. What is the maximum critical length
that can be used in determining the averaging out of the hoop stresses around the corroded
area. Round to the nearest 0.1.

a. 40
b. 36.1
c. 30.1
d. 28.1

Section: Reference Publication:

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