API 653 Certification Practice Exam Open Book 68 Questions with Verified Answers
An insert plate is required for a new 4 NPS nozzle (4.5" O.D.) in the
... [Show More] shell. What is the minimum diameter for this insert?
A. 4.5"
B. 9"
C. 12"
D. 16.5" - CORRECT ANSWER D. 16.5"
A welder is qualified on a plate in the 3G position. The welder is qualified for what fillet weld position(s)?
A. None
B. F, H
C. F, H, V
D. All fillets - CORRECT ANSWER C. F, H, V
When must a shim be placed under an Image Quality Indicator?
A. When the area of interest is darker.
B. When the area of interest is darker by more than 15%.
C. When the area of interest is lighter
D. When the area of interest is lighter by more than 15%. - CORRECT ANSWER D. When the area of interest is lighter by more than 15%.
A welder passes a qualification test using a 3 NPS pipe with a groove weld. What is the maximum pipe diameter that the welder is now qualified to weld?
A. 2-7/8"
B. 4"
C. 8"
D. Unlimited - CORRECT ANSWER D. Unlimited
A portion of a 1/2" thick shell plate is replaced. What is the closest distance allowed between this plate and the adjacent vertical weld?
A. 3"
B. 6"
C. 10"
D. 12" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 6"
Tank Number: T-100
Diameter: 114'
Specific Gravity: 0.9
Plate Material: A-283 gr C
Shell Corrosion Rate: 0.003"/yr
Allowable Liquid Height: 40'
Construction Code: API 650 4th Edition
A corroded area is found 3' from the bottom and 4" from the nearest weld. The lowest reading in the locally corroded area is 0.368".
What is the critical length "L" in the corroded area?
A. 12"
B. 24"
C. 25"
D. 40" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 24"
Tank Number: T-100
Diameter: 114'
Specific Gravity: 0.9
Plate Material: A-283 gr C
Shell Corrosion Rate: 0.003"/yr
Allowable Liquid Height: 40'
Construction Code: API 650 4th Edition
A corroded area is found 3' from the bottom and 4" from the nearest weld. The lowest reading in the locally corroded area is 0.368".
What is the required thickness "tmin" in this corroded area?
A. 0.407"
B. 0.418"
C. 0.452"
D. 0.464"
E. 0.492" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 0.418"
Tank Number: T-100
Diameter: 114'
Specific Gravity: 0.9
Plate Material: A-283 gr C
Shell Corrosion Rate: 0.003"/yr
Allowable Liquid Height: 40'
Construction Code: API 650 4th Edition
A corroded area is found 3' from the bottom and 4" from the nearest weld. The lowest reading in the locally corroded area is 0.368".
API 653 sets a limit on the thickness of "t2". In order to provide a 10 year run, what is the minimum thickness that "t2" can be during this inspection?
A. 0.211"
B. 0.251"
C. 0.281"
D. 0.301"
E. 0.309" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 0.281"
A reinforcement plate is added to an existing 6 NPS nozzle. The shell plate is 1.125" thick and the reinforcement plate is 0.625" thick. What is the required size of the fillet weld joining the reinforcement pad to the nozzle?
A. 0.3125"
B. 0.4375"
C. 0.625"
D. 1.125" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 0.4375"
A 3/4" thick A-662-C plate is used for during a tank shell repair. For this material, determine the tank's lowest operating temperature. (Impact testing of the material has not been performed.)
A. -25 °F
B. -10 °F
C. +15 °F
D. +41 °F - CORRECT ANSWER C. +15 °F
A flush patch (patch with butt welds) is installed in a shell plate that is 1" thick. What is the closest distance allowed between this piece and the existing horizontal weld?
A. 3"
B. 6"
C. 8"
D. 10" - CORRECT ANSWER D. 10"
Joe Welder qualified using a 4G coupon that is 0.625" thick. The qualification weld was made with 4 layers. What is the maximum weld metal thickness that Joe is now qualified to weld?
A. 0.625"
B. 1.250"
C. 2.00"
D. Unlimited - CORRECT ANSWER D. Unlimited
A reconstruction tank has a tank height of 50 feet. During reconstruction, what is the maximum acceptable out-of-plumbness?
A. 0.25 inches
B. 3.0 inches
C. 5.0 inches
D. 6.0 inches - CORRECT ANSWER C. 5.0 inches
When evaluating a radio-graph of a 1" thick weld, the Geometric Unsharpness should not exceed:
A. 0.020"
B. 0.070"
C. 2.0
D. 4.0 - CORRECT ANSWER A. 0.020"
A tank shell weld is being radiographed using Iridium 192. The weld thickness is 0.750". What size hole-type IQI should be used?
A. 8
B. 17
C. 20
D. 25 - CORRECT ANSWER C. 20
A tension test is performed on a weld specimen for the weld qualification test. The base material is SA-516 gr 70 (A P-1 material). The specimen breaks in the base metal. What is the minimum acceptable stress level for this test?
A. 55,000 psi
B. 60,000 psi
C. 66,500 psi
D. 70,000 psi - CORRECT ANSWER C. 66,500 psi
Calculate the minimum remaining thickness (MRT) of a tank floor at the next inspection based on the following information.
The original floor thickness was 0.250". The minimum thickness before repairs was 0.120" and the minimum floor thickness after repairs was 0.180".
The bottom-side has a maximum corrosion rate of 0.002 ipy. The top-side had a maximum corrosion rate of 0.003 ipy. A new reinforced lining (0.060" thick) was just installed on the tank floor. The next inspection interval is 20 years.
A. 0.020"
B. 0.080"
C. 0.120"
D. 0.140"
E. 0.150" - CORRECT ANSWER D. 0.140"
The radiographer is RT'ing a small tank's horizontal weld. The examiner places the source in the center of the tank and wraps 15 RT films completely around this tank weld. What is the minimum number of IQI's that can be used?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 15
D. 45 - CORRECT ANSWER B. 3
A riveted tank has shell plates that butt up to each other with butt straps on both sides of the shell. There are a total of 6 rows of rivets *********** strap. What joint efficiency is used when determining the minimum thickness for the shell?
A. 0.70
B. 0.85
C. 0.92
D. 1.00 - CORRECT ANSWER B. 0.85
A tank shell plate has a deep pit. The shell plate away from the pit is 0.500" and has a corrosion allowance of 0.100" (t-min = 0.400"). What is the maximum pit depth allowed?
A. 0.100"
B. 0.200"
C. 0.250"
D. 0.300"
E. 0.400" - CORRECT ANSWER D. 0.300"
During a repair the maximum allowed undercut of a horizontal shell weld is:
A. 1/64"
B. 1/32"
C. 1/16"
D. 1/8" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 1/32"
A groove weld has an orientation that is 45° inclined from horizontal. The weld cap is facing straight up. What weld position is this?
A. Flat
B. Horizontal
C. Vertical
D. Overhead - CORRECT ANSWER C. Veritcal
Densitometers that are used to measure film density must be calibrated to:
A. company standards.
B. jurisdictional standards.
C. ASTM E-114-86
D. a calibrated step wedge film. - CORRECT ANSWER D. a calibrated step wedge film.
When qualifying a weld procedure using the SMA W process, which variable is considered an essential variable?
A. Groove design
B. Weld position
C. Shielding gas composition
D. Filler rod "F-number" - CORRECT ANSWER D. Filler rod "F-number"
A replacement tank bottom uses 3/8" plates that will be fillet-welded. What is the minimum size of fillet weld allowed for these tank bottom welds?
A. 3/16"
B. 1/4"
C. 3/8"
D. 1/2" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 3/8"
When radiographing a flat plate, location markers should be placed:
A. on the source side.
B. on the film side.
C. on either side.
D. every 6". - CORRECT ANSWER A. on the source side.
A shell course that is 3/8" thick is being replaced. The plates must be rolled to the curvature of the tank when the tank diameter is:
A. ≤ 40 ft
B. ≤ 60 ft
C. ≤ 80 ft
D. Shaping is required on all diameters. - CORRECT ANSWER B. ≤ 60 ft
A shell course is added to an un-insulated tank in Denver, Colorado. The tank was built to API 650, 2nd Edition. Shell plate should be selected that has appropriate toughness at:
A. -30 °F
B. -15 °F
C. +0 °F
D. +15 °F - CORRECT ANSWER C. +0 °F
An alternate current electromagnetic yoke shall have a lifting power of:
A. 10 lb
B. 20 lb
C. 30 lb
D. 40 lb - CORRECT ANSWER A. 10 lb
A tank is being reconstructed. The bottom of the tank is 1-3/4" thick. The outside temperature is 20 °F. Before welding, the bottom course welds should be preheated to:
A. 32 °F
B. 100 °F
C. 140 °F
D. 200 °F - CORRECT ANSWER D. 200 °F
A groove-weld procedure is being qualified. If the test coupon is 1/4" thick, what bend tests are required?
A. 2 root bends and 2 face bends
B. 4 side bends
C. 2 root bends and 2 face bends, or 4 side bends
D. 1 root bend and 1 face bend
E. 1 root bends and 1 face bend, or 2 side bends - CORRECT ANSWER A. 2 root bends and 2 face bends
A nozzle is hot tapped onto a tank. This nozzle should be:
A. a minimum of 12" long.
B. installed 6' from the nearest nozzle.
C. made with extra strong pipe.
D. made using a Class 300 flange. - CORRECT ANSWER C. made with extra strong pipe.
A welder is being qualified by radiography on a 0.750" plate using the SMA W process. What is the maximum length permitted for an elongated slag inclusion?
A. None allowed
B. 0.125"
C. 0.250"
D. 0.333"
E. 0.750" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 0.250"
ASME Section VIII had few limitations concerning Brittle Fracture prior to:
A. 1955
B. 1962
C. 1973
D. 1987 - CORRECT ANSWER D. 1987
An insert is required for a new 8 NPS nozzle (8.625" O.D.) in the shell. The nozzle has a reinforcing pad that has a diameter of 16". What is the minimum diameter for this insert plate?
A. 17.25"
B. 20.625"
C. 28"
D. 32" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 28"
It is determined that impact testing is require on a Group V material that is 1.0 thick. Transverse test specimens are used. Each set of specimens should have an average value no lower than:
A. 0.95 of the base metal.
B. 15 ft-lbs.
C. 20 ft-lbs.
D. 30 ft-lbs. - CORRECT ANSWER C. 20 ft-lbs.
A tank alteration is being performed using 1" thick shell plate. The maximum allowed misalignment in the vertical joints is:
A. 1/16"
B. 1/8"
C. 0.100"
D. 0.200" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 0.100"
Determine the minimum allowed thickness in the critical zone of a bottom plate. The bottom shell course was originally 0.400" and has a t-min of 0.360". The tank floor was originally 0.250" thick.
A. 0.100"
B. 0.125"
C. 0.180"
D. 0.200" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 0.125"
An existing 160' weld tank has an annular plate ring. The tank was built to API 650 4th Edition and has product specific gravity of 0.85. Determine the minimum allowed thickness for the annular plate. The bottom shell course is 7/8" thick and has a stress level of 29,000 psi.
A. 0.125"
B. 0.170"
C. 0.250"
D. 0.281"
E. 0.310" - CORRECT ANSWER E. 0.310"
A hot tap is performed on a tank with an overall liquid height of 38'. The nozzle is installed 4' above the bottom. The product specific gravity is 0.80. Prior to cutting the shell, the nozzle should be pressure tested. Determine the pressure for this test. (Density of water is 0.0361 lb/in³)
A. 17.7 psig
B. 19.8 psig
C. 22.1 psig
D. 24.7 psig - CORRECT ANSWER C. 22.1 psig
Determine the maximum edge settlement allowed in a 120' tank. The settlement is perpendicular to the bottom plate welds and "breaks" 4' from the shell.
A. 1.5"
B. 4.5"
C. 5.5"
D. 18" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 5.5"
What is the classification of a soil that has a soil-resistivity of 5000 ohm-cms?
A. Very Corrosive
B. Corrosive
C. Moderately Corrosive
D. Mildly Corrosive - CORRECT ANSWER D. Mildly Corrosive
A corroded area is located in the bottom course of a 120-foot welded tank. The bottom of the corroded area is 5 feet above the tank bottom and is 4" away from the nearest weld. The minimum average thickness (t1) along the "critical length" is 0.345". The tank was built to API 650 4th Edition. The tank material is A-283-C and the product specific gravity is 0.90. Determine the maximum allowable product fill height for this tank. (Show your work.)
Formula: H=(𝑡 𝑆 𝐸)/(2.6 𝐷 𝐺)
A. 24.7 feet
B. 29 feet
C. 29.7 feet
D. 34 feet
E. 40 feet - CORRECT ANSWER D. 34 feet
Tank Diameter: 160'
Total Fill Height: 40'
Specific Gravity: 0.82
Construction Code: API 650 7th Edition - Basic Std
Tank Course Height: Each course is 8'
Plate Material: A-283 gr C
Determine the minimum acceptable thickness for the 3rd course of the following tank.
A. 0.197"
B. 0.302"
C. 0.315"
D. 0.332"
E. 0.347"
F. 0.355"
G. 0.512"
H. 0.525"
I. 0.564" - CORRECT ANSWER B. 0.302"
A carbon steel caustic tank has a caustic strength of 30% by weight. Stress relieving of welds is recommended if:
A. the temperature exceeds 140 °F.
B. the temperature is lower than 32 °F.
C. the material toughness is below 15 ft-lbs.
D. low strength steels are used. - CORRECT ANSWER A. the temperature exceeds 140 °F.
A penetrant examination is performed on a carbon steel tank weld at 80 °F. What is the minimum allowed dwell time for the penetrant?
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 30 minutes
D. 60 minutes - CORRECT ANSWER A. 5 minutes
During a reconstruction, the maximum allowed weld reinforcement on new vertical welds that are 1/2" thick is:
A. 3/32"
B. 1/8"
C. 5/32"
D. 3/16" - CORRECT ANSWER A. 3/32"
A rectangular flush patch with butt welds is installed on a shell. How many RT's are required to inspect the new welds on this patch?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 4
D. 6
E. 100% of the welds - CORRECT ANSWER D. 6
During the design of a reconstructed tank, what allowable stress should be used for the bottom course based on the product? The tank material is A-285 gr C.
A. 20,000 psi
B. 22,000 psi
C. 22,500 psi
D. 23,600 psi
E. 26,000 psi - CORRECT ANSWER A. 20,000 psi
A hydro test is being conducted on an in-service tank. The bottom course is limiting the fill height. Determine the maximum fill height from the bottom of the tank for this hydro test.
Tank Diameter: 80'
Tank Height: 40'
Specific Gravity: 0.82
Construction Code: API 12C 14th Edition
1st Course Thickness: 0.304"
Plate Material: A-516-60
A. 31.8 feet
B. 32.8 feet
C. 35 feet
D. 35.8 feet
E. 36 feet
F. 36.8 feet
G. 41.2 feet
H. 42.2 feet - CORRECT ANSWER E. 36 feet
A tank nozzle-to-flange weld is radiographed. The nozzle size is 6 NPS. The RT examiner does *not* have access to the inside of the nozzle. The weld thickness is 0.375". If a wire type IQI is used, what wire set should be selected?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. Either set A or B - CORRECT ANSWER A. A
A lap patch is installed on a tank floor over a corroded area. The lap patch must extend past the corroded area by at least:
A. 0.5"
B. 1.0"
C. 2.0"
D. 6.0" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 2.0"
What is the "F-number" of an E-7018 electrode?
A. F-1
B. F-2
C. F-3
D. F-4 - CORRECT ANSWER D. F-4
When performing an MT examination, the surface to be examined should be clean. The area that shall be clean includes the surface to be examined and the adjacent:
A. 1"
B. 2"
C. 3"
D. 6" - CORRECT ANSWER A. 1"
A depression in a tank floor has a diameter of 96 inches. What is the maximum depth allowed?
A. 0.37 inches
B. 1.5 inches
C. 3.0 inches
D. 17.75 inches
E. 18.0 inches - CORRECT ANSWER B. 1.5 inches
A tensile test specimen breaks at a load of 18,750 lbs. The specimen is 3/4" wide and 1/2" thick. What is the tensile strength of the specimen?
A. 18,750 psi
B. 25,000 psi
C. 37,500 psi
D. 50,000 psi
E. 52,250 psi - CORRECT ANSWER D. 50,000 psi
Which of the following materials is the most active (anodic)?
A. Carbon Steel
B. Lead
C. Magnesium
D. Zinc - CORRECT ANSWER C. Magnesium
During a tank alteration, the maximum thickness allowed for material A-285 Grade C is:
A. 0.5"
B. 1.0"
C. 1.5"
D. 1.75"
E. Unlimited - CORRECT ANSWER B. 1.0"
A 6 NPS nozzle is radiographed using the double wall technique. What is the minimum number of exposures required to completely shoot the weld?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6 - CORRECT ANSWER B. 3
A pontoon-floating roof must be designed to handle a rainfall of:
A. 3 inches in one hour.
B. 5 inches in one hour.
C. 10 inches in 24 hours.
D. 15 inches in 24 hours. - CORRECT ANSWER C. 10 inches in 24 hours.
An engineer is evaluating a pitted area on a tank shell using ASME Section VIII - Division 2. The original design stress is less than 2/3 of the yield strength and also less than 1/3 of the tensile strength of the material. What stress value should the engineer use in the Section VIII-Div 2 calculations?
A. Original deign stress
B. 1/3 of the tensile strength
C. 2/3 of the yield
D. Yield stress
E. Lesser of 2/3 yield stress or 1/3 tensile stress - CORRECT ANSWER A. Original deign stress
An 8 NPS nozzle will be hot tapped onto a 140' diameter tank. The hot tap is in the shell two feet above the tank bottom. The tank's 1st course has a nominal thickness of 0.750" and minimum required thickness of 0.642". What is the minimum spacing between this new nozzle and any existing nozzle?
A. 17.7"
B. 23.2"
C. 25.1"
D. 40" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 25.1"
A hydro is being performed on a tank that is 40' tall. Settlement readings will be taken during the hydro. The tank's bottom course is 0.750" thick (tic)! What is the maximum fill rate when filling the bottom 2 courses?
A. 9 inches per hour
B. 12 inches per hour
C. 18 inches per hour
D. 300 inches per hour
E. 460 inches per hour - CORRECT ANSWER C. 18 inches per hour
A new tank is installed with CP and a thin film liner. The 1st internal inspection should be performed within:
A. 10 years.
B. 12 years.
C. 15 years.
D. 17 years.
E. 25 years. - CORRECT ANSWER D. 17 years.
WPS (#237) & PQR (#333)
This PQR is incorrect because:
A. the wrong type of bend tests were performed.
B. bend test #2 & #4 failed.
C. tension test #2 failed.
D. there is a math error tension test #2 calculation.
E. impact testing should have also been performed. - CORRECT ANSWER D. there is a math error tension test #2 calculation.
WPS (#237) & PQR (#333)
Based on this PQR, what is the maximum base metal thickness range qualified on the WPS?
A. 1/16" - 1"
B. 1/16" - 2"
C. 3/16" - 1"
D. 3/16" - 2"
E. 1/4" - 3/4" - CORRECT ANSWER C. 3/16" - 1"
WPS (#237) & PQR (#333)
This WPS is *not* qualified because the:
A. A# is not supported by the PQR.
B. P# is not supported by the PQR.
C. welding positions are not supported by the PQR.
D. shielding gas is missing on the WPS. - CORRECT ANSWER B. P# is not supported by the PQR.
WPS (#237) & PQR (#333)
The WPS is *not* qualified because the:
A. preheat temperature is not supported by the PQR.
B. amp ranges on the WPS are incorrect.
C. rod size is missing on the PQR.
D. root spacing is missing on the PQR. - CORRECT ANSWER A. preheat temperature is not supported by the PQR. [Show Less]