• Successfully pass the API 653 storage tank Inspector certification exam
• Effectively use major codes: API 650 and ASME B&PV Sections V & IX
• Perform all tank calculations needed for API exam
• Use API’s codes during inspection, repairs, and alterations of tanks
• Review welding procedures (WPS/PQR) and welder performance qualifications (WPQ)

The course designed for inspection engineers, Inspection personnel, operating engineers, Managers, Maintenance engineers and personnel involved in design, operation, inspection and maintenance of aboveground storage tanks. This course will also be beneficial to those who are preparing themselves for the API 653 certification examination.

Module 1: API 653 Primary code

API 653: Suitability for Service

•      Tank roof evaluation:

•      Fixed Roof

•      Floating Roof

•      Change in Service:

•      Tank shell evaluation:

•      Actual thickness determination

•      Minimum shell thickness calculations for welded tanks

•       Minimum shell thickness calculations for riveted tanks

•       Shell distortion

•      Shell flaws

•      Wind girders and stiffeners

•      Shell welds

•      Shell penetrations

•      Operating at elevated temperature

•      Tank bottom evaluation

•      Causes for bottom failure

•      Tank Bottom Release Prevention Systems (RPSs)

•      Bottom Plate Thickness Measurements

•      Minimum Thickness for Tank Bottom Plate

•      Minimum Thickness for Annular Plate Ring

•      Tank foundation evaluation 

•      Foundation Repair or Replacement

•      Anchor Bolts

API 653: Brittle Fracture

•      Basic Consideration

•      Assessment procedure

API 653 Inspection Frequency

•      Inspection

•      Inspection Frequency Considerations

•      Inspection from outside the tank

•      Routine in-service inspection

•      External Inspection

•      Ultrasonic Thickness Inspection

•      Internal Inspection

•       Alternative to Internal Inspection to Determine Bottom Thickness

•      Preparatory Work for Internal Inspection

•      Inspection Checklists

•      Records

•      Reports

API 653 Materials & Design

•      Material

•      New Materials

•      Original Materials for Reconstructed Tanks

•      Welding Consumables

•      Design Considerations for Reconstructed Tanks

•      New Weld Joints

•      Existing Weld Joints

•      Shell Design

•      Shell penetrations

•      Wind girders and Shell Stability

•      Roofs

•      Seismic Design

API 653 Tank Repair & Alteration

•      Tank repair and alteration

•      Removal and Replacement of Shell Plate Material

•      Shell Repairs Using Lap-welded Patch Plates

•      Repair of Defects in Shell Plate Material

•      Alteration of Tank Shells to Change Shell Height

•      Repair of Defective Welds

•      Repair of Shell Penetrations

•      Addition or Replacement of Shell Penetrations

•      Alteration of Existing Shell Penetrations

•      Repair of Tank Bottoms

•      Repair of Fixed Roofs

•      Repair of Floating Roofs

•      Repair or Replacement of Floating Roof Perimeter Seals

•      Hot Taps

API 653 Dismantling/Reconstruction & Welding

•       Dismantling and Reconstruction

•       Cleaning and Gas Freeing

•       Dismantling Methods

•       Reconstruction

•       Dimensional Tolerances

•       Welding

•       Welding Qualifications

•       Identification and Records

•       Preheat or Controlled Deposition Welding Methods as Alternatives to Post-weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)

•       Welding Safety

API 653 Examination and Marking

•       Examination and Testing

•       NDE

•       Radiographs

•       Hydrostatic Testing

•       Leak Tests

•       Settlement Survey During Hydrostatic Testing

•       Marking and Recordkeeping

•       Nameplates

•       Recordkeeping

•       Certification

Module 2 API 650 Welded Tanks for Oil Storage

•       Definitions

•       Material

•       Design:

•       Design considerations

•       Special considerations

•       Bottom Plates

•       Annular Bottom Plates

•       Shell Design

•       Shell attachments and tank appurtenances

•       Top and intermediate stiffening rings

•       Roofs

•       Wind load on tanks

•       Tank anchorage

•       Downward reactions on foundations

•       Fabrication

•       Erection

•       Methods for Examining Joints

Module 3 NDE ASME V

Article 1, NDE General Requirements:

1. The Scope of Section V
2. Rules for use of Section V as a referenced Code
3. Responsibilities of the Owner / User, and of subcontractors
4. Calibration
5. Definitions of “inspection” and “examination”
6. Record keeping requirements

Article 2, Radiographic Examination:

1. The Scope of Article 2 and general requirements
2. The rules for radiography as typically applied on butt welded AST horizontal and vertical seams:

·         Required marking

·         Type, selection, number, and placement of IQIs,

·         Allowable density

·         Control of backscatter radiation

·         Location markers

3. Records

Article 6, Liquid Penetrant Examination, Including Mandatory Appendix II:

1. The Scope of Article 6,
2. The general rules for applying and using the LP method
3. procedures
4. contaminants
5. techniques
6. examination
7. interpretation
8. documentation
9. record keeping

Article 7, Magnetic Particle Examination

1. The Scope of Article 7

2. General requirements such as but not limited to requirements for:

Procedures

Techniques (Yoke and Prod only)

Calibration

Examination

Interpretation

Documentation and record keeping

Article 23, Ultrasonic Standards, Section SE–797 only – Standard practice for measuring thickness by manual ultrasonic pulse-echo contact method:

1. The Scope of Article 23, Section SE-797,

2. The general rules for applying and using the Ultrasonic method

3. The specific procedures for Ultrasonic thickness measurement as contained in paragraph 7

Module 4 Welding Qualification ASME IX

•       Welding General Requirements

•       Test Positions for Groove Welds

•       Test Positions for Fillet Welds

•       Types and Purposes of Tests and Examinations

•       Tension Tests

•       Guided‐Bend Tests

•       Toughness Tests

•       Fillet‐Weld Tests

•       Other Tests and Examinations

•       Welding Procedure Qualifications

•       Preparation of Test Coupon

•       Hybrid Welding Procedure Variables

•       Welding Variables

•       Temper Bead Welding

Module 5 Cathodic Protection of API 651

• API 651 Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks
• Corrosion of Aboveground Steel Storage Tanks
• Determination of Need for Cathodic Protection
• Methods of Cathodic Protection for Corrosion Control
• Criteria for Cathodic Protection
• Operation and Maintenance of Cathodic Protection Systems

Module 6 Lining of AST Bottoms API 652

API 652 Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms

• Types of tank bottom linings and advantage and disadvantages of each
• Considerations for recommending tank bottom linings
• Causes of tank bottom lining failures
• Types of tank bottom lining materials
• Surface preparation requirements for the installation of tank bottom linings
• Issues affecting the application of a tank bottom lining

Module 7 Inspection of AST API-575

• Types of tanks covered
• Procedures to perform internal and external inspection
• The types of external and internal inspections
• Procedures to determine suitability for continued service
• Evaluation change-of-service effects on suitability for continued service
• Evaluation and general condition of:

•       Distortions, flaws, wind girders, stiffeners, welds, and nozzles

•       Tank bottoms

•       Tank foundations

•       Causes of corrosion, leaks, cracks, and mechanical deterioration

•       Auxiliary equipment.

•       Anchor bolts, pipe connections, ground connections

•       Insulation.

•       Shells and roofs

Module 8 Damage mechanism for AST

•       Damage mechanisms applicable to aboveground storage tanks (API 571)

•       Brittle Fracture

•       Mechanical Fatigue

•       Atmospheric Corrosion

•       Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

•       Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC)

•       Soil Corrosion

•       Caustic Corrosion

•       Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (Cl-SCC)

•       Caustic Stress Cracking (Caustic Embrittlement)

•       Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)

•       Sulfuric Acid Corrosion