Inspection and Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real API practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Inspection and Maintenance flashcards as text
Under API 510, what action is required when a pressure vessel inspection reveals cracks in the base metal or weld seams?
Answer: Immediately assess the crack per FFS methods or repair before returning to service
Cracks found during inspection require immediate fitness-for-service evaluation per API 579 or repair before the vessel is returned to service, as cracks can propagate rapidly under pressure.
What is the purpose of a 'thinning damage factor' in an API 581 RBI analysis?
Answer: To quantify how localized or general thinning affects the probability of failure
The thinning damage factor in API 581 quantifies the contribution of metal loss (general or localized) to the overall probability of failure, enabling a risk-informed inspection strategy.
Which of the following is NOT a valid NDE method for detecting corrosion under insulation (CUI) on insulated piping?
Answer: Magnetic particle testing (MT)
Magnetic particle testing requires direct surface access and is not practical for detecting corrosion under insulation; PEC, profile RT, and GWUT can all inspect through insulation.
When an API inspector identifies equipment operating outside its established operating envelope, what is the correct initial action?
Answer: Notify the operations and engineering team immediately so the deviation can be evaluated
Deviations from the established operating envelope must be promptly reported to operations and engineering for evaluation, as such deviations can affect corrosion rates, damage mechanisms, and inspection intervals.
According to API 571, high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA) is most associated with which type of equipment and operating conditions?
Answer: Heat exchangers in hydroprocessing units at elevated temperature and hydrogen partial pressure
HTHA occurs in equipment exposed to high hydrogen partial pressures at elevated temperatures (typically above 400°F), such as reactors and exchangers in hydrocracking and hydrotreating units.
What is the typical maximum interval for an external inspection of a pressure vessel in a non-corrosive service per API 510?
Answer: 5 years
API 510 specifies a maximum external inspection interval of 5 years for pressure vessels, though RBI and operating conditions may justify different intervals.
In API inspection practice, what does the acronym 'IOWs' stand for and why are they important?
Answer: Integrity Operating Windows — process variable limits that protect equipment integrity
Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs) are process variable limits (e.g., temperature, pressure, flow, chemistry) whose exceedance can accelerate damage mechanisms and compromise equipment integrity.