API 653 EXAM

PRACTICE QUESTIONS (CLOSED BOOK)

1. Two methods
methods of quantifying
quantifying the
the remaining
remaining thickne
thicknessss of tank
tank bottoms
bottoms are
are
mentioned in API 653. One method uses the formula involving “MRT”. What is
the name of the other method?
Probabilistic and Deterministic
2. What is thethe maximum
maximum out-of-plum
out-of-plumbness
bness allowed
allowed from
from the top ofof the shell
shell to the
bottom of the shell on a 48’ high tank?
5.00”
3. Due to strengt
strengthh requirement
requirements, s, the minimum
minimum thicknes
thicknesss of an annular
annular plate
plate ring is
usually greater than:
0.100”
4. The joint
joint between
between the new materia
materiall of an insert
insert plate
plate and the old materi
materialal of the
existing tank shell plate shall be:
Butt welded
5. A pressure
pressure test
test at least
least 1.5 times
times the __________
__________ shallshall be performed
performed on a nozzle
nozzle
installed by hot tapping after the valve has been installed on it and prior to
mounting the hot tap machine.
Hydrostatic head
6. Cone roof
roof storage
storage tanks
tanks may be as large
large as ______
______ feet
feet in diameter
diameter..
300’
7. The sim
simple
plest
st type
type of float
floating
ing roof
roof is
is the:
the:
Pan
8. An oxygen
oxygen deficient
deficient atmosp
atmosphere
here exists
exists when
when a tank atmosatmosphere
phere has less than
what percent oxygen by volume?
19.5%
9. Lead-in-Air
Lead-in-Air analyzers
analyzers must
must be designed
designed to to measure
measure _______
_______ Lead-in-Air
Lead-in-Air
concentrations.
Organic
10. Entry into a confined space is considered to have occurred as soon as: as:
A part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an opening into the space.
11. When repairs involve most of the tank bottom, it may be desirable to displace the
flammable liquids beneath the tank by:
Water flooding
12. Tank surfaces thatthat have been in contact with leaded gasoline should be scraped
down to bare metal. On each side of a line that might be heated excessively by
welding or other operations, an area of at least ______ should be scraped down to
bare metal.
12”
13. What is the
the axis of a weld?
weld?
A line through the center of the weld, parallel with the sides of the weld
14. In monitoring the density limitations of radiographs, either a ________ or step
wedge comparison film shall be used for judging film density.
Densitometer
15. During tank roof evaluations, roof plates corroded to an average thickness of less
than ______ in any 100 square inch area shall be repaired or replaced.
0.09”

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 API 653 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (CLOSED BOOK)
16. API 653 covers minimum requirements for maintaining the integrity of above
ground storage tanks.
After placed in service
17. In the evaluation of fixed roofs for continued service, particular attention must be
given to:
The possibility of internal corrosion of pipe columns
18. In determining the lowest average thickness t avg (or t1) over a length of “L” of a
tank shell plate, the inspector shall use at least _______ equally spaced
measurements over the length of “L”.
Five
19. To determine if a tank is suitable for continued operation, t1 shall be greater than
or equal to t min subject to verification of all intended loadings and the value of
t2 shall be greater than or equal to what percent of t min?
60%
20. Tanks with diameters greater than ______ feet shall be analyzed for acceptable
shell plate thickness using the variable design point method in API 650.
200
21. In evaluating tank shell corrosion/pitting, widely scattered pits may be ignored
provided that pits meet API 653 depth acceptability criteria and the length of
each pitted area does not exceed __ inches in an examined length of __ inches.
2,8
22. Atmospheric pressure when used to describe the design pressure of a tank refers
to internal pressure up to but not exceeding:
2.5 pounds per in2 gage.
23. If a tank shell has a thickness no greater than _____, the risk of failure due to
brittle fracture is minimal, provided that an evaluation for suitability of service
per section 2 of API 653 has been performed.
0.500”
24. All tanks shall be given a visual external inspection by an inspector qualified in
accordance with API 653 at least every _____ years or RCA / 4N years,
whichever is less.
5
25. Where concrete ringwalls are provided under the shell, the top of the ring shall be
level within _____ in any 30 feet of the circumference measured from the
average elevation.
Plus or minus 1/8”
26. If a tank is designed to have a leak detection and containment system, the
minimum thickness of the bottom plates at the next inspection can be:
0.05”
27. The maximum vertical and horizontal dimension of a lapped patch repair plate is
_____ inches and _____ inches respectively.
48,72
28. When gouging or grinding welds to remove defects, cavities often result. These
cavities must be examined visually and by:
MT or PT

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 API 653 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (CLOSED BOOK)
29. Completed welds of stress relieved assemblies of shell penetrations shall be
examined by visual and magnetic particle or liquid Penetrant methods:
After stress relief and before hydrostatic test
30. Corrosion that occurs when two metals with different compositions (thus
different electrolyte potentials) are connected in an electrolyte (usually oil) is
called:
Galvanic corrosion
31. What are two systems of cathodic protection normally used for corrosion
control?
Galvanic and impressed current
32. When calculating the critical length “L” and determining the least minimum
thickness “t2” of an area of a tank shell, the critical length cannot be more than:
40”
33. The simplest type of atmospheric storage tank is the:
Cone roof
34. Corrosion on the underside of tank bottoms that rest on pads or on the soil cannot
be inspected readily from the outside. If it becomes necessary to make an
external inspection of the bottom located near the edge of the tank, the following
method can be used when the tank is out of service.
Tunneling method
35. During an external inspection of an in-service aboveground storage tank, crevices
associated with structural steel ladders, stair treads, and platforms plates, etc.,
where water can collect, should be closely checked by:
Picking with a scraper or knife
36. Tank bottoms should be checked thoroughly for thickness over its entire area. UT
measurements are usually the first choice. If an UT instrument is no t available,
what other alternate non-destructive method could be used for quickly checking
the condition of the bottom?
Hammer testing
37. The internal tank shell should be inspected for corrosion. Two likely corrosion
areas are the:
Vapor space and liquid level line.
38. Two of the best tools for visually inspecting inside a tank for cracks is a:
Strong light and a magnifying glass
39. If evidence of cracking is found during the internal inspection of a tank, a
thorough investigation should be made using:
MT, PT, or RT or UT shear wave testing
40. _______ is an electrode of an electrochemical cell where oxidation (corrosion)
occurs.
An anode
41. _______ is an electrode of an electrochemical cell at which a reduction reaction
occurs.
A cathode
42. Radiographs for an evaluated, repaired, or reconstructed tank shall be retained
for:
1 year

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 API 653 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (CLOSED BOOK)
43. In regard to installation of primary and secondary seals, if the roof rim thickness
is less than _____ inch thick, it shall be replaced.
0.10
44. If it is necessary to replace a roof rim, the new roof rim shall be a min. thickness
of:
3/16”
45. The min. thickness of new roof plates shall be:
3/16” plus any corrosion allowance.
46. Rim-mounted primary and toroidal seal systems can be removed, repaired, or
replaced. To minimize evaporation losses and reduce potential hazards to
workers, no more than:
1/4 of the roof seal system should be out of an in-service tank at one time.
47. In the event roof live loads exceed 25 pounds per square foot (loads caused by
insulation, vacuum on the tank, snow loads), the plate thickness shall be:
Based on analysis using proper allowable stresses
48. Where tank foundations true to a horizontal plane are specified and concrete
ringwalls are not provided, the tolerances are as follows:
The foundation under the shell shall be level with plus or minus 1/8” in
any 10’ of circumference and within plus or minus ½” in the total
circumference measured from the average elevation.
49. When a tank is reconstructed, the weldability of the steel shall be:
Verified
50. When a tank is reconstructed, the welder or welding operator’s identification
mark shall be hand or machine stamped adjacent to and at intervals along the
completed weld not exceeding:
3’ along completed welds
51. In lieu of stamping complete welds:
A record may be kept that identifies the welder or welding operator
employed for each welded joint
52. The ____________ do not require welder identification.
Roof plate welds and flange-to-nozzle-neck welds
53. What type of tank settlement can often be predicted in advance, with sufficient
accuracy from soil tests?
Uniform settlement
54. What type of tank settlement does not induce stresses in the tank structure? It
does cause problems with piping and other attachments to the tank from outside.
Uniform settlement
55. What type of tank settlement generally rotates the tank in a tilted plane?
Rigid body tilting
56. What type of tilt of a tank will cause an increase in the liquid level and, therefore,
an increase in the hoop stress in the tank shell? It also can cause binding of seals
on floating roofs.
Rigid body tilting

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 API 653 EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (CLOSED BOOK)
99. A lapped repair plate may cross any butt-welded vertical or horizontal shell seam
that has been ground flush. How much overlap beyond the seam is required?
6”
100. External leaks on aboveground storage tank shells are often marked by a:
Discoloration or the absence of paint in the area below the leak