Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory

26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 1 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

Instructions:
Choose only one answer, which you think is most appropriate.
Use the attached answer sheet in answering the following questions.

1.

Exclusive of corrosion allowance, what is the minimum nominal

thickness for all new construction bottom plates?
a.
b.
c.
d.

2.

inch
inch
3/16 inch
5/8 inch

For shell horizontal joints, how many additional radiographs shall

be taken for each 50 feet of horizontal joint, (not including those
required as per API 650) for welds made in existing plates during
the repair?
a.
b.
c.
d.

3.

1
2
3
4

The recommended minimum development time (penetrant

testing) allowed for a material made of high temperature alloy
is:
a.
b.
c.
d.

4.

5 min
10 min
7 min
60 min

Select suitable hole type (source side) penetrameter for

following weld joint:
Weld reinf. = 1/8" thk

7/8" thk

a)

Backing strip = 3/16" thk

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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 2 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

a)
b)
c)
d)
5.

If type of penetrameter is Q.1 is changed to wire type what

shall be the wire designation (wire decimeter in inch)
a.
b.
c.
d.

6.

10 min for weld, 5 min for plate

5 min for both
10 min for both
5 min for weld, 10 min for plate

After applying the dry developer the examiner checked four

welds for surface defects after following period, weld A- after 5
minute, weld B after 10 minute, weld C was checked after 30
minutes and weld D after 65 minutes which of the weld were
checked wrongly
a.
b.
c.
d.

8.

0.025 (No. 10)

0.016 (No. 8)
0.032 (No. 11)
None of the above

For steel plates and weld to be checked LPI, what shall be the
penetration time for penetrant
a.
b.
c.
d.

7.

No. 20
No. 25
No. 30
None of the above

Weld
Weld
Weld
Weld

A and B
C and D
D only
A and D

Following combination of base metal and welding electrode was

qualified by a certain PQR impact testing is not required.
Base Metal =SA 285 GrC Plates, thk
Welding electrode = AWS E 6015
This PQR will qualify which of the following combination of base
metal- welding electrodes.
a.
b.

1 thk SA 515Gr 60 plates, E 6013 electrodes

1 rhk SA 285 GrC plates, E 6013 electrodes
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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 3 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

c.
d.
9.

1 thk plates SA 516Gr70, E 7018 electrodes

None of the above

For MT examination by prod techniques the spacing between

prods shall be between
a.
b.
c.
d.

4
4
3
3

inch
inch
inch
inch

to
to
to
to

12 inch
10 inch
10 inch
8 inch

10. For a tank with 130 ft diameter thickness of top course worked
out was td=5mm tt=4mm. What will be minimum nominal
thickness provided for this course according to API 650 for a
new tank?
a.
b.
c.
d.

3/16 (5mm)
1/4 (6mm)
5/16 (8mm)
None of the above

11. For a tank with diameter 100ft was found to have thickness
reduction in a localized area. Minimum thickness observed (t2)
was 1 inch. What will be the critical vertical length of for the
area?
a.
b.
c.
d.

40 inches
37 inches
45 inches
None of the above

12. On a tank roof plate two corroded areas was observed at

locations A and B for location A, average thickness = 0.085
inches, area = 105 in2
Location B, average thickness = 0.095 inches, Area = 105 in2
your decision will be:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Both A and B are within limits

Location A is OK, location B is art of limits
Both A and B are out of limits
Location B in OK, location A is out of limits

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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 4 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

13. Hot tap connection is to be made on tank with following

description shell plate thickness = inch. Design temperature
= 30F the plates were not tested for impact testing, (Consr.
Code API 650-1974). What will be the maximum size of tapping
connection?
a.
b.
c.
d.

8 inches NPS
6 inches NPS
10 inches NPS
4 inches NPS

14. A replacement plate to be used on a shell thickness of 5/8 inch,

on the second course of the tank. Thickness of first course and
third course is also 5/8 inch. Following 3 plates are available
which one is most suitable to be used as replacement plate.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Plate
Plate
Plate
Plate

thickness
thickness
thickness
thickness

=
=
=
=

5/8
1/2
1

15. A tank is having remaining corrosion allowance of 2.5mm and

corrosion rate of the shell is 0.1mm per year. What will be
inspection interval for next ultrasonic thickness inspection from
outside of the tank?
a.
b.
c.
d.

15 Years
12.5 Years
10 Years
5 Years

16. Typical corroded areas on a shell plate are exhibited below in

figure 1 with measured thickness in inches indicated on the
sketch. The un-corroded thickness of the shell plate is 0.750
inches and C.A is 0.125

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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 5 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

Figure 1

AREA A
0.65
0.66
0.72
0.54

AREA B

0.75
0.72
0
AREA C
0.75
The total length of a arrow line drawn is 8 inches. The length of the
line in each of the corroded areas A, B and C are 1.5, 0.8 and 0.5
inches respectively.
Comment on the acceptability of the corroded condition.
a.

The pitting can be ignored as a case of widely scattered

pitting as both pitting depth and dimensions are within
limits

b.

Not acceptable as size are not OK, total length of the pit
dimensions is more than permitted

c.

The pitting can be ignored as a case of widely scattered

pitting since depth are OK

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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 6 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

d.

The pitting cannot be ignored as a case of widely scattered

pitting since depth are not OK

17. Two plates sample A and B were tested for longitudinal impact
testing. Following were results observed. They belonged to
Group No. I as per API 650:
Results of impact test for sample A were 18ft lb, 8ft lb, 16ft lb.
Results on sample B: 12ft lb, 14ft lb, 20 ft. lb
Your assessment will be:
a.
b.
c.
d.

sample
sample
sample
sample

A and B both OK
A and B both to be re-tested
B is OK, A shall be re-tested
a is OK, B shall be re-tested

18. For replacement to an existing 0.25 thick shell plate of an AST,

another plate of 0.25 thickness to ASTM A36 is used. What
should be the minimum clear distance between the outer edges
of the adjacent butt welds of vertical and horizontal joints,
respectively?
a.
b.
c.
d.

10 & 6
6 & 3
8 & 4
12 & 6

19. Repair of a 5/8 thick shell, using lapped (lap welded) patch
plate of 1/8 thick was carried out, without informing the
Owner. Such a repair is not acceptable as per API standard 653,
because:
a.
b.
c.
d.
20.

Owner had not specified use of patch plate repairs

Lap patch plate of less than 3/16 is not permitted
Lap patch plate repair on shell thickness more than
above is not permitted
All of above

As per API Standard 650, the offset between vertical seams of

adjacent shells shall be a minimum distance of:
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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 7 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

a. 5 t, where t is the plate thickness of thicker shell course

at the offset
b. 4t, where t is the plate thickness of thicker shell course at
the offset
c. 3 t, where t is the plate thickness of thicker shell course
at the offset
d. 2 t, where t is the plate thickness of thicker shell course
at the offset
21.

When butt welded annular bottom plates are used, in an AST

built to API Standard 650, their width from inside of the shell
shall be at least:
a.
b.
c.
d.

22.

Misalignment in a completed 20 mm thick vertical seam of an

AST built to API Standard 650 shall be more than:
a.
b.
c.
d.

23.

900 mm
300 mm
600 mm
None of the above

2 mm
1.5 mm
0.8 mm
3 mm

Out of roundness measured as deviation from radius

measured 1 foot above the bottom corner weld of a 150 ft
diameter AST built to API Standard 650, shall not exceed:

a.
1 (25 mm)
b.
(12.7 mm)
c.
(19 mm)
d.
1-1/4 (32 mm)
24. Local deviations from theoretical shape of an aboveground
storage tank (AST), built to API Standard 650, specifically
Peaking at vertical joints or Banding at horizontal weld
joints as measured over an appropriate sweepboard of 36 shall
not exceed:

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Professional Training and Consultation

API 653 Preparatory
26 Feb 3 Mar 2005, Dammam
Page 8 of 8

FINAL EXAM (OPEN)

a.
b.
c.
d.

19 mm (3/4)
13 mm (1/2)
16 mm (5/8)
1/8 mm (3)

25. An AST has remaining corrosion allowance of 3.2 mm. The

known rate of corrosion of shell is 200 microns per year. As per
API Standard 653, when should the external visual inspection
by an Authorized Inspector shall be carried out at an interval
not exceeding:
a. 5 years
b. 8 years
c. 4 years
d. 15 years
---------------------------------End----------------------------------

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