API 653 preparation
Owner API 653 1.2 - answer Overall responsibility for compliance with API 653?
Engineer API 653 4.3.1.2 - answer Responsibility - evaluate deterioration of existing
shell material?
Steel storage tanks built to API 650 and its predecessor API 12c (API 653 1.1.1) -
answer What does api 653 cover?
Minimum requirements for maintaining the integrity of tanks after they have been placed
in service and addresses inspection, repair, alteration, relocation and reconstruction (api
653 1.1.1) - answer What does api 653 provide?
Tank foundation, bottom shell, structure, roof, attached appurtenances and nozzles to
the face of first flange, first threaded joint or first welding-end connection (api 653 1.1.2)
- answer What is the scope of api 653 limited to?
API 653 shall govern for tanks that have been placed into service (api 653 1.1.2) -
answerIn the case of conflict between api 653 and api 650 or it's predecessor api 12c.
Which shall govern?
Rules or guidelines to cover all the varied conditions which may occur in an existing
tank api 653 1.1.5 - answerAPI 653 does not contain?
The regulations shall govern, however if api 653 is more stringent then api 653 shall
govern (api 653 1.3) - answerIf any provision of api 653 presents a direct or implied
conflict with any statutory regulations, which would govern?
API 2015, 2016 and api 2217a - answerWhere can you find guidelines to safeguard
personnel, prevention of fires, explosions and property damage
Except in areas specifically designated as safe for hot work, a hot work permit shall be
obtained before starting any work that can involve a source of ignition - answerWhat
does api 2009 state in relation to hot work?
API 2009 appendix B - answerWhere can you find brief information on inerting tanks?
Fitness for service - answerAPI RP 579-1 is?
ASNT SNT-TC-1A - answerPersonnel qualified and certified in NDE?
API RP 2201 - answerSafe hot tapping practices in petroleum industries is?
,For design and construction of large, welded low pressure storage tanks - answerAPI
standard 620 is?
Any work on a tank that changes its physical dimensions or configuration -
answerDefine an alteration in accordance with api 653?
Standard that was in effect at the date of the installation of the component - answerThe
AS built standard is the?
The AS built standard only for those repairs or alterations - answerThe standard used
for repairs or alterations made after original construction is?
1. Organisation of the jurisdiction where tank is operated
2. Inspection organisation of the licensed and registered insurance company
3. Owner/Operator - answerName 3 authorised inspection organisations
An employee of an authorised inspection agency who is qualified and certified to
perform inspections under API 653 - answerDefine authorised inspector
A change from previous operating conditions involving different properties of the stored
product such as, specific gravity or corrosivity and/or different service conditions of
temperature and/or pressure - answerWhat is a change in service
The total metal loss, divided by the period of time over which the metal loss occurred -
answerDefine corrosion rate
The portion of the tank bottom or plate within 3" of the inside edge of the shell -
answerWhat is the tank critical zone?
A formal, complete inspection as supervised by an authorised inspector of all accessible
internal tank surfaces - answerDefine internal inspection
1. Installing a shell penetration larger than 12" beneath the liquid level
2. Installing a bottom penetration within 12" of the shell
3. Removing and replacing or adding a shell plate, exceeding 12" dimension
4. Removing or replacing annular ring material, exceeding 12"
5. Installing a new bottom
6. Jacking a tank shell - answerWhat does a major alteration or repair include
The legal entity having both control of and/or responsibility for the operation and
maintenance of an existing storage tank - answerDefine owner/operator
Work necessary to maintain or restore a tank to a condition suitable for safe operation -
answerDefine repair
,When the results of a tank inspection show that a change has occurred from the original
physical condition - answerWhen shall an evaluation be made to determine a tanks
suitability for use
1. Internal corrosion
2. External corrosion
3. Stress levels and allowable stress levels
4. Properties of the stored product such as specific gravity, temperature and corrosivity
5. Design temperature and service location
6. External roof live load, wind and seismic loading
7. Tank foundation, soil and settlement conditions
8. Chemical + mechanical analysis of the tank materials
9. Distortion of the existing tank
10. Operating conditions such as, filling/emptying rates - answerWhat factors should be
considered when evaluating a tanks suitability for use
When corroded to an average thickness of less than 0.09 inch in any 100 inch squared -
answerWhen should roof plates be repaired or replaced
All the requirements of API 650 Annex M - answerWhat should be considered before
changing the service of a tank to operate above 200 F
Storage tank engineer - answerWho shall conduct the evaluation of an existing tank
shell?
Each case must be treated as a unique situation and a thorough inspection conducted
to determine the nature and extent of corrosion - answerWhat must be done prior to
developing a repair procedure for shell corrosion
The corroded or damaged areas shall be repaired
The allowable liquid level of the tank reduced
The tank retired - answerWhat shall happen if the requirements of API 653 4.3.3 or
4.3.4 can not be satisfied
Foundation settlement
Over or under pressuring
High wind
Poor shell fabrication - answerWhat are the causes of shell distortion
Removed - answerCracks in the shell to bottom weld shall be
Tanks of welded construction that operate at elevated temperatures (exceeding 200F
but less than 500F) - answerDefine operation at elevated temperature
30,000 pounds per inch squared - answerWhen the minimum specified yield strength of
the shell material is not known, what value shall be assumed?
, 1. The tank shell shall be evaluated in conformance with API 650 annex M not 653
2. The need for a butt welded annular ring shall be determined and/or installed
3. The shell to bottom joint shall be evaluated for fatigue conditions - answerExisting
tanks that were not originally designed and constructed to API 650 annex M shall be
evaluated for a change of service to elevated temperatures how?
Monitoring the settlement behaviour of tanks - answerWhat is a recognised practice to
assess the integrity of tank bottoms
Internal pitting
Corrosion of weld joints
Stresses placed on bottom plates (by roof supports)
Underside corrosion
Inadequate drainage
Uneven settlement
Non homogeneous fill under the tank - answerWhat are the main causes of tank bottom
failure
When tank bottom integrity is not detectable visually or through inventory reconciliation -
answerWhen are leak detection systems used
API 575 - answerWhere are tank leak detection systems listed and discussed
Magnetic flux leakage (mfl) tools - answerWhat are commonly used along with U.T
thickness measurement tools to examine tank bottoms
No - answerCan the treatment of bottom pitting by non welded repairs be used to
increase the minimum remaining thickness
Settlement, erosion, cracking and concrete deterioration - answerWhat are the principal
causes of tank foundation deterioration
During hydrotest or first filling in cold conditions, after a change to lower temperature
service or after a repair/alteration - answerWhen is brittle fracture most likely to occur
60F and above - answerNo known brittle fracture tank failures have occurred at shell
metal temperatures above
The lowest one day mean temperature as shown in api 650 plus 8c - answerWhat is the
lowest design temperature defined as
Restrict to liquid level
Restrict the minimum metal temperature
Change to lower specific gravity product - answerWhat options exist to establish a
revised safe operating envelope for a tank
Owner API 653 1.2 - answer Overall responsibility for compliance with API 653?
Engineer API 653 4.3.1.2 - answer Responsibility - evaluate deterioration of existing
shell material?
Steel storage tanks built to API 650 and its predecessor API 12c (API 653 1.1.1) -
answer What does api 653 cover?
Minimum requirements for maintaining the integrity of tanks after they have been placed
in service and addresses inspection, repair, alteration, relocation and reconstruction (api
653 1.1.1) - answer What does api 653 provide?
Tank foundation, bottom shell, structure, roof, attached appurtenances and nozzles to
the face of first flange, first threaded joint or first welding-end connection (api 653 1.1.2)
- answer What is the scope of api 653 limited to?
API 653 shall govern for tanks that have been placed into service (api 653 1.1.2) -
answerIn the case of conflict between api 653 and api 650 or it's predecessor api 12c.
Which shall govern?
Rules or guidelines to cover all the varied conditions which may occur in an existing
tank api 653 1.1.5 - answerAPI 653 does not contain?
The regulations shall govern, however if api 653 is more stringent then api 653 shall
govern (api 653 1.3) - answerIf any provision of api 653 presents a direct or implied
conflict with any statutory regulations, which would govern?
API 2015, 2016 and api 2217a - answerWhere can you find guidelines to safeguard
personnel, prevention of fires, explosions and property damage
Except in areas specifically designated as safe for hot work, a hot work permit shall be
obtained before starting any work that can involve a source of ignition - answerWhat
does api 2009 state in relation to hot work?
API 2009 appendix B - answerWhere can you find brief information on inerting tanks?
Fitness for service - answerAPI RP 579-1 is?
ASNT SNT-TC-1A - answerPersonnel qualified and certified in NDE?
API RP 2201 - answerSafe hot tapping practices in petroleum industries is?
,For design and construction of large, welded low pressure storage tanks - answerAPI
standard 620 is?
Any work on a tank that changes its physical dimensions or configuration -
answerDefine an alteration in accordance with api 653?
Standard that was in effect at the date of the installation of the component - answerThe
AS built standard is the?
The AS built standard only for those repairs or alterations - answerThe standard used
for repairs or alterations made after original construction is?
1. Organisation of the jurisdiction where tank is operated
2. Inspection organisation of the licensed and registered insurance company
3. Owner/Operator - answerName 3 authorised inspection organisations
An employee of an authorised inspection agency who is qualified and certified to
perform inspections under API 653 - answerDefine authorised inspector
A change from previous operating conditions involving different properties of the stored
product such as, specific gravity or corrosivity and/or different service conditions of
temperature and/or pressure - answerWhat is a change in service
The total metal loss, divided by the period of time over which the metal loss occurred -
answerDefine corrosion rate
The portion of the tank bottom or plate within 3" of the inside edge of the shell -
answerWhat is the tank critical zone?
A formal, complete inspection as supervised by an authorised inspector of all accessible
internal tank surfaces - answerDefine internal inspection
1. Installing a shell penetration larger than 12" beneath the liquid level
2. Installing a bottom penetration within 12" of the shell
3. Removing and replacing or adding a shell plate, exceeding 12" dimension
4. Removing or replacing annular ring material, exceeding 12"
5. Installing a new bottom
6. Jacking a tank shell - answerWhat does a major alteration or repair include
The legal entity having both control of and/or responsibility for the operation and
maintenance of an existing storage tank - answerDefine owner/operator
Work necessary to maintain or restore a tank to a condition suitable for safe operation -
answerDefine repair
,When the results of a tank inspection show that a change has occurred from the original
physical condition - answerWhen shall an evaluation be made to determine a tanks
suitability for use
1. Internal corrosion
2. External corrosion
3. Stress levels and allowable stress levels
4. Properties of the stored product such as specific gravity, temperature and corrosivity
5. Design temperature and service location
6. External roof live load, wind and seismic loading
7. Tank foundation, soil and settlement conditions
8. Chemical + mechanical analysis of the tank materials
9. Distortion of the existing tank
10. Operating conditions such as, filling/emptying rates - answerWhat factors should be
considered when evaluating a tanks suitability for use
When corroded to an average thickness of less than 0.09 inch in any 100 inch squared -
answerWhen should roof plates be repaired or replaced
All the requirements of API 650 Annex M - answerWhat should be considered before
changing the service of a tank to operate above 200 F
Storage tank engineer - answerWho shall conduct the evaluation of an existing tank
shell?
Each case must be treated as a unique situation and a thorough inspection conducted
to determine the nature and extent of corrosion - answerWhat must be done prior to
developing a repair procedure for shell corrosion
The corroded or damaged areas shall be repaired
The allowable liquid level of the tank reduced
The tank retired - answerWhat shall happen if the requirements of API 653 4.3.3 or
4.3.4 can not be satisfied
Foundation settlement
Over or under pressuring
High wind
Poor shell fabrication - answerWhat are the causes of shell distortion
Removed - answerCracks in the shell to bottom weld shall be
Tanks of welded construction that operate at elevated temperatures (exceeding 200F
but less than 500F) - answerDefine operation at elevated temperature
30,000 pounds per inch squared - answerWhen the minimum specified yield strength of
the shell material is not known, what value shall be assumed?
, 1. The tank shell shall be evaluated in conformance with API 650 annex M not 653
2. The need for a butt welded annular ring shall be determined and/or installed
3. The shell to bottom joint shall be evaluated for fatigue conditions - answerExisting
tanks that were not originally designed and constructed to API 650 annex M shall be
evaluated for a change of service to elevated temperatures how?
Monitoring the settlement behaviour of tanks - answerWhat is a recognised practice to
assess the integrity of tank bottoms
Internal pitting
Corrosion of weld joints
Stresses placed on bottom plates (by roof supports)
Underside corrosion
Inadequate drainage
Uneven settlement
Non homogeneous fill under the tank - answerWhat are the main causes of tank bottom
failure
When tank bottom integrity is not detectable visually or through inventory reconciliation -
answerWhen are leak detection systems used
API 575 - answerWhere are tank leak detection systems listed and discussed
Magnetic flux leakage (mfl) tools - answerWhat are commonly used along with U.T
thickness measurement tools to examine tank bottoms
No - answerCan the treatment of bottom pitting by non welded repairs be used to
increase the minimum remaining thickness
Settlement, erosion, cracking and concrete deterioration - answerWhat are the principal
causes of tank foundation deterioration
During hydrotest or first filling in cold conditions, after a change to lower temperature
service or after a repair/alteration - answerWhen is brittle fracture most likely to occur
60F and above - answerNo known brittle fracture tank failures have occurred at shell
metal temperatures above
The lowest one day mean temperature as shown in api 650 plus 8c - answerWhat is the
lowest design temperature defined as
Restrict to liquid level
Restrict the minimum metal temperature
Change to lower specific gravity product - answerWhat options exist to establish a
revised safe operating envelope for a tank
