API 653 Closed Book Exam Mastery Guide: Aboveground Storage Tank
(AST) Engineering, Storage Tank Engineer Definition Criteria, Corrosion
Rate Estimation (Similar Service Method), Controlled Deposition Welding
Techniques, Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) Alternatives, API 579
Fitness-for-Service Evaluation, Tank Reconstruction Inspection Hold
Points, Authorized Inspector Approval Authority, Repair and Alteration
Authorization Procedures, API 650 Compliance Requirements, Welding
Procedure Specification (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Record (PQR),
Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) Verification, Shell-to-Bottom
Weld Crack Assessment, Nondestructive Examination (NDE) Methods,
Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT),
Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (UT), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW),
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Nozzle Replacement and Reinforcement
Weld Inspection, Thick Film Reinforced Tank Lining Systems, Internal
Floating Roof Design Selection, API 2201 Hot Tapping Safety
Requirements, Metallurgical Review for PWHT Alternatives Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Answers Latest
Updated 2026
API 653 defines a "Storage tank engineer" as:
A) A registered professional engineer in structural steel fabrication
B) Person or organization who is knowledgeable and experienced in the engineering disciplines
associated with evaluating the integrity and reliability of aboveground storage tanks
C) the engineering department of a contractor who makes repairs to aboveground storage tanks
D) A professional engineer who is also an authorized API 653 inspector
B
,Similar service is means of estimating corrosion rates that:
A) Is Seldom used as a means of scheduling internal inspection intervals
B) Ignores environmental factors in the determination of corrosion rates
C) May be used in addition to or in lieu of actual measurement of corrosion rates
D) Is generally considered as the best methodology for establishing the inspection intervals
C
Controlled Deposition welding methods, in lieu of PWHT, is limited to:
A) P-1 materials
B) P-1 and P-3 Materials only
C) P-1, P3, and P4 materials only
D) P-5A materials
C
Inspection hold points, for tank reconstruction, shall be designated by:
A) The authorized inspector
B) An engineer experienced in storage tank design
C) Agreement between tank owner/user and reconstruction contractor
D) Agreement between and engineer and the authorized
A
All repair and alteration work shall be approved at all designated hold points and after
completion:
,A) Need not be approved if approved will delay work progress
B) By the repair organization of the repairs were done according to the specified repair and/or
alteration procedures
C) By the authorized inspector or experienced storage tank engineer
D) By the authorized inspector only
C
Alterations to storage tanks, which comply with API 650, must be authorized by:
A) The owner/user
B) The storage tank engineer
C) The authorized inspector
D) The repair organization
B
A record of non-essential variables used during welding of the test coupon is:
A) Optional on the PQR
B) Optional on the WPS
C) Required on the PQR
D) Required on the WPQ
A
Cracks is the shell to bottom weld:
A) Shall be evaluated per the "As built" Standard
, B) Shall be removed
C) Shall be evaluated on a case by case basis
D) Shall be evaluated per API 579
B
What welding process is most widely used in the repair of process equipment?
A) GMAW
B) GTAW
C) SMAW
D) FCAW
C
The owner has decided to install a new bottom in an AST. The new bottom will be installed
through existing tombstone reinforcing plates. One Method is to remove the lower portion of
the reinforcing plate. After the new or replaced section is installed, the splice weld shall:
A) Visually examined only
B) Magnetic particle examined only
C) Liquid penetrate examined only
D) Ultrasonic shear wave examined only
B
Which of the following is an advantage of thick film reinforced tank bottom lining?
A) easier to apply than thin film
B) initial cost is typically less than thin film
(AST) Engineering, Storage Tank Engineer Definition Criteria, Corrosion
Rate Estimation (Similar Service Method), Controlled Deposition Welding
Techniques, Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) Alternatives, API 579
Fitness-for-Service Evaluation, Tank Reconstruction Inspection Hold
Points, Authorized Inspector Approval Authority, Repair and Alteration
Authorization Procedures, API 650 Compliance Requirements, Welding
Procedure Specification (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Record (PQR),
Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) Verification, Shell-to-Bottom
Weld Crack Assessment, Nondestructive Examination (NDE) Methods,
Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT),
Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (UT), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW),
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Nozzle Replacement and Reinforcement
Weld Inspection, Thick Film Reinforced Tank Lining Systems, Internal
Floating Roof Design Selection, API 2201 Hot Tapping Safety
Requirements, Metallurgical Review for PWHT Alternatives Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Answers Latest
Updated 2026
API 653 defines a "Storage tank engineer" as:
A) A registered professional engineer in structural steel fabrication
B) Person or organization who is knowledgeable and experienced in the engineering disciplines
associated with evaluating the integrity and reliability of aboveground storage tanks
C) the engineering department of a contractor who makes repairs to aboveground storage tanks
D) A professional engineer who is also an authorized API 653 inspector
B
,Similar service is means of estimating corrosion rates that:
A) Is Seldom used as a means of scheduling internal inspection intervals
B) Ignores environmental factors in the determination of corrosion rates
C) May be used in addition to or in lieu of actual measurement of corrosion rates
D) Is generally considered as the best methodology for establishing the inspection intervals
C
Controlled Deposition welding methods, in lieu of PWHT, is limited to:
A) P-1 materials
B) P-1 and P-3 Materials only
C) P-1, P3, and P4 materials only
D) P-5A materials
C
Inspection hold points, for tank reconstruction, shall be designated by:
A) The authorized inspector
B) An engineer experienced in storage tank design
C) Agreement between tank owner/user and reconstruction contractor
D) Agreement between and engineer and the authorized
A
All repair and alteration work shall be approved at all designated hold points and after
completion:
,A) Need not be approved if approved will delay work progress
B) By the repair organization of the repairs were done according to the specified repair and/or
alteration procedures
C) By the authorized inspector or experienced storage tank engineer
D) By the authorized inspector only
C
Alterations to storage tanks, which comply with API 650, must be authorized by:
A) The owner/user
B) The storage tank engineer
C) The authorized inspector
D) The repair organization
B
A record of non-essential variables used during welding of the test coupon is:
A) Optional on the PQR
B) Optional on the WPS
C) Required on the PQR
D) Required on the WPQ
A
Cracks is the shell to bottom weld:
A) Shall be evaluated per the "As built" Standard
, B) Shall be removed
C) Shall be evaluated on a case by case basis
D) Shall be evaluated per API 579
B
What welding process is most widely used in the repair of process equipment?
A) GMAW
B) GTAW
C) SMAW
D) FCAW
C
The owner has decided to install a new bottom in an AST. The new bottom will be installed
through existing tombstone reinforcing plates. One Method is to remove the lower portion of
the reinforcing plate. After the new or replaced section is installed, the splice weld shall:
A) Visually examined only
B) Magnetic particle examined only
C) Liquid penetrate examined only
D) Ultrasonic shear wave examined only
B
Which of the following is an advantage of thick film reinforced tank bottom lining?
A) easier to apply than thin film
B) initial cost is typically less than thin film
