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

26. How many roof rafters must a plank cross over for inspection of the roof of a tank?

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
 a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Section: Reference Publication:

27. The maximum acceptable undercutting on horizontal butt welds of a reconstructed

tank is _____ inch.

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

Section: Reference Publication:

28. The minimum number of settlement points around a tank periphery is .

a. 12
b. 10
c. 8
d. 6

Section: Reference Publication:

29. A weld shall be acceptable by visual inspection if the inspection shows which of the
following?

a. The weld has no cracks, no undercutting, and less than 20% coldlap.
b. The weld has no cracks, undercutting is acceptable, and any surface porosity
does not exceed one cluster in any 2 of length and the diameter of each cluster
does not exceed 1/16.
c. The weld has no crater cracks or other surface cracks, undercutting is
acceptable, and any surface porosity does not exceed one cluster in any 3 of
length and the diameter of each cluster does not exceed 1/8.
d. The weld has no crater cracks, other surface cracks or arc strikes in
or adjacent to the welded joint, undercutting is acceptable, and any surface porosity
does not exceed one cluster in any 4 of length and the diameter of each cluster
does not exceed 3/32.

Section: Reference Publication:

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30. Penetrameters are normally placed on the _____ of the part being examined.

a. source side
b. film side
c. weld side
d. obverse side

Section: Reference Publication:

31. External, UT measurements of a new tank shell shall be made not later than _____
years after commissioning.

a. 5
b. 4
c. 3
d. 2

Section: Reference Publication:

32. A liquid having a closed cup flash point equal to or greater than 100oF is considered
.

a. flammable material
b. combustible liquid
c. gasoline
d. diesel

Section: Reference Publication:

33. Thin film linings are usually used for application to .

a. the bottoms of new storage tanks.

b. pitted bottoms of older storage tanks.
c. corroded bottoms of previous service tanks.
d. rough and pitted surfaces.

Section: Reference Publication:

34. With a horizontal sweep board 36 long, peaking shall not exceed _____ inch.

a. 0.250
b. 0.375
c. 0.500
d. 0.625

Section: Reference Publication:

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35. If a welder tests in a 6G position, he qualifies to weld .

a. all positions
b. uphill only
c. downhill only
d. vertical only

Section: Reference Publication:

36. An anode is .

a. an electrode of an electrochemical cell at which no corrosion occurs

b. an electrode of an electrochemical cell at which corrosion occurs
c. a chemical substance containing ions that migrate
d. a metallic connection that provides electrical continuity

Section: Reference Publication:

37. Widely scattered pits may be ignored, provided .

a. no pit depth results in the remaining shell thickness being less

than 1/2t min acceptable tank shell thickness, exclusive of corrosion
allowance.
b. the average pit depth is greater than 1/2t min, exclusive of the corrosion
allowance
c. no pit depth is greater than 1/2t min, including the corrosion allowance
d. no pit depth is less than 1/2t min, including the corrosion allowance

Section: Reference Publication:

38. The critical zone of the tank bottom is within the .

a. Annular plate ring, within 6 of the shell or within 6 of the inside edge of the
annular ring.
b. Annular plate ring, within 10 of the shell or within 10 of the inside edge of the
annular ring.
c. Annular plate ring, within 12 of the shell, or within 12 of the inside
edge of the annular plate ring.
d. Annular or bottom plates within 3 inches of the inside edge of the shell.

Section: Reference Publication:

39. The space between the outer periphery of the roof and the tank shell of an external
floating roof tank shall be sealed by a flexible device that provides .

a. a minimum 1/2 gap over no more than 24

b. an area of no more than 15 square inches opening calculated by measuring the
length and width of the gaps.
c. a reasonably close fit to the shell surfaces
d. a minimum of 3 openings 24 long with gaps no more than 1/4

Section: Reference Publication:

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40. What is the minimum thickness for a tank floor plate with a > 0.05 or thicker reinforced
internal lining?

a. .005
b. .050
c. .075
d. .100

Section: Reference Publication:

41. A full hydrostatic test is always required on .

a. a tank that has an annular plate installed with the longest dimension less than
12
b. a tank that has a door sheet installed
c. a tank that has a nozzle 12 NPS installed
d. a reconstructed tank

Section: Reference Publication:

42. What is the maximum temperature that dry MT can be used?

o
a. 600 F
o
b. 135 F
o
c. 400 F
d. Within the temperature range limitations set by the manufacturer

Section: Reference Publication:

43. If a repair/modification weld is made on a tank shell plate that is thicker than 1, the
base metal within 3 inches of the welding shall be heated to a temperature of
approximately degrees.

a. 120o F
o
b. 140 F
o
c. 160 F
o
d. 200 F
Section: Reference Publication:

44. What is the main factor in determining the efficiency of a rivet joint in a tank?

a. The allowable stress of the rivets

b. The number of rivet rows and type of joint
c. The allowable stress of the plate
d. Whether the joints have butt straps or not

Section: Reference Publication:

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45. It is not necessary for the inspector to check which of the following?

a. All test results on the PQR

b. All essentials and non-essentials on WPS
c. All essentials and non-essentials on WPS and PQR
d. All non-essentials on PQR

Section: Reference Publication:

46. A new tank built in January, 1984, was removed from service and internally inspected
in January, 1994. The bottom course of the tank showed the most general corrosion (no
isolated corrosion was found). The original thickness of the bottom course of the tank was
1. The measured thickness of the bottom course at the inspection was 0.93. Determine
the yearly corrosion rate.

a. .0035
b. .0070
c. .0140
d. .0700

Section: Reference Publication:

47. When the corrosion rates of a tank are not known and the bottom plate thickness can
not otherwise be determined, inspection(s) should be performed within the next _____
years of tank operation to establish corrosion rates.

a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20

Section: Reference Publication:

48. The maximum spacing of settlement points is _____ feet around the circumference of
the tank.

a. 40
b. 35
c. 32
d. 25

Section: Reference Publication:

49. A 100 foot diameter tank must have at least _____ inch thick shell plates.

a. 1/8
b. 3/16
c. 1/4
d. 1/2

Section: Reference Publication:

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50. The maximum acceptable undercutting on vertical butt welds of a reconstructed tank is
_____ inch.

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

Section: Reference Publication:

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