Technical support, guidance, and reviews are provided for aboveground storage tanks: routine inspections, external inspections, ultrasonic thickness inspections, internal inspections, onstream inspections, traditional and advanced nondestructive examinations, repairs, major repairs, alterations, evaluations, alternatives, change of service, and welding inspections.
This is a 7-day course for students to review materials and practice questions to enhance understanding in preparation to sit for an API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector certification examination. The exam is not provided.
API 653 Internal Inspections, API 653 External Inspections, and API 653 Ultrasonic Thickness Inspections for aboveground storage tanks
Routine in-service monthly inspections from the ground. External visual inspections of the tank shell, roof, nozzles, and foundation. Ultrasonic thickness inspections of the tank shell. Internal inspections of the tank bottom, shell, roof structure, nozzles, and components. Onstream inspections of the tank bottom. Inspections of floating roof seal systems. Traditional and advanced nondestructive examinations including visual, infrared, laser measurement, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, radiography, ultrasonic, guided wave, magnetic flux leakage, eddy current, alternating current field measurement, robotic, vacuum box, leak detection, diesel oil, hydrostatic, hardness testing, metallography, and laboratory testing.
Replacement of shell plate, shell repairs using lap-welded patch plates, repair of defects in shell plate material, repair of defect shell welds, repair of shell penetrations, addition or replacement of shell penetrations, repairing a portion of the tank bottom, repairs within the critical zone, replacement of entire tank bottom, additional welded-on plates, repair or replacement of fixed roofs, repair or replacement of floating roofs, repairs of leaks in pontoons, repair or replacement of floating roof perimeter seals, hot taps, and components.
Alteration of tank shells to change shell height and the addition of manways or nozzles greater than NPS 12.
Suitability for service of fixed roofs, floating roofs, change of service, tank shells, wind girders and shell stiffeners, shell welds, shell penetrations, tank bottom, annular ring, and tank foundation.
Evaluations of flaws and deterioration. Analysis of design conditions based on existing plate thickness and material. Determining minimum plate thickness that is suitable for continued operation. Actual thickness verifications and determinations. Brittle fracture considerations.
Determination of the inspection intervals for external inspection, ultrasonic thickness inspection, internal inspections, and area of interest monitoring.
Repair or replacement, repair or fitness for service assessment, extent of repairs, construction or reconstruction, hydrostatic testing or hydrostatic test exemptions, various nondestructive or destructive test methods.
Internal and external pressures, operation at elevated temperatures, operation at lower temperatures than design, normal and emergency venting.
Reviews of Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), Procedure Qualification Record (PQR), Welder Qualification Record (WQR), Material Test Report (MTR), required joint types, required inspections, acceptance criteria, discontinuities, flaws, defects, interpretation of inspection results, repairs to welds, weld maps, and examination records.
This is a 7-day course for students to review materials and practice questions to enhance understanding in preparation to sit for an API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector certification examination. The exam is not provided. The course based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) Individual Certification – API 653 Body of Knowledge (BOK) and Publications Effectivity Sheet. The BOK specifies publications content applicability and exclusions. The following publications are reviewed, as applicable:
Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry
Inspection Practices for Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
Inspection of Pressure-relieving Devices
Welding Processes, Inspection, and Metallurgy
Welded Tanks for Oil Storage
Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks
Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms
Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction
Section V – Nondestructive Examination
Section IX – Qualification Standard for Welding Procedures
• API 653 Internal, External, and Ultrasonic Thickness Inspections.
• Tank inspection reports include API 653 calculations, analysis of data, and evaluations.
• Recommendations for suitability for service, monitoring, repairs, alterations.
1. Dates of inspection
2. Type of inspection
3. Scope of inspection
4. Inspection limitations
5. Description of tank
6. List of components inspected
7. Conditions found
8. Inspection methods and tests used
9. Inspection results
10. Corrosion rates of the bottom and shell
11. Minimum allowed thicknesses for the bottom and shell
12. Settlement survey measurement and analysis
13. Recommendations for repairs and monitoring
14. Next inspection dates
15. Authorized inspector information
16. Adding drawings, photographs, nondestructive examination reports, and other pertinent information
