CPA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the importance of reservoir pressure in oil production? → To extract oil by maintaining pressure
2. What is evidence-based practice in CPA Animal Anatomy & Physiology? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
3. What role do standard operating procedures play in CPA Animal Anatomy & Physiology? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
4. What is the purpose of a production platform in offshore drilling? → To extract oil and store gas
5. Why are hazard assessments important in the petroleum industry? → To identify and mitigate risks
6. What is hydraulic fracturing? → A method of extracting oil and gas
7. What is the primary function of the choke manifold in well control operations? → To control annular back pressure while circulating a kick out of the well
8. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) containing petroleum products in the U.S. are primarily regulated under which law? → Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle I
9. What is evidence-based practice in CPA Sanitation & Disease Prevention? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
10. What is the importance of continuing education for CPA professionals in Sanitation & Disease Prevention? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
11. What role do standard operating procedures play in CPA Nutrition & Dietary Needs? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
12. How should CPA professionals handle difficult conversations? → Prepare key points, remain calm, focus on facts, seek solutions
13. What type of soil remediation technique uses microorganisms to break down petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil? → Bioremediation
14. What is the purpose of a 'pig' in pipeline operations? → A tool inserted into the pipeline for cleaning, inspection, or separation
15. What is the significance of offshore drilling in the petroleum industry? → It accesses undersea petroleum deposits
16. When a pipeline operator performs a 'line walk,' what is the primary purpose of this activity? → To inspect the physical condition of the pipeline ROW for encroachments, leaks, or hazards
17. Why is natural gas considered a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels? → It produces less carbon dioxide and pollutants
18. What is the role of a maintenance log in petroleum operations? → To track maintenance actions and ensure proper performance
19. What is the importance of continuing education for CPA professionals in Nutrition & Dietary Needs? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
20. What is the purpose of drilling in the petroleum industry? → To extract petroleum and natural gas
21. What is evidence-based practice in CPA Health Assessment & First Aid? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
22. When responding to a petroleum spill near a waterway, what is the purpose of deploying containment booms? → To prevent the oil slick from spreading further on the water surface
23. What is the purpose of regulatory compliance in the petroleum industry? → To ensure environmental and safety standards are met
24. What is the 'kill line' on a BOP stack used for? → To circulate heavy mud into the wellbore from the surface to kill the well
25. What is the importance of continuing education for CPA professionals in Grooming Techniques? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
26. Why is the calibration of drilling equipment important? → To maintain safety and accuracy in operations
27. Which type of valve is designed to automatically shut off flow when a pipeline experiences a sudden pressure drop indicating a rupture? → Automatic shutoff valve (ASV) / Emergency Flow Restrictor
28. What role do standard operating procedures play in CPA Health Assessment & First Aid? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
29. What is the function of a drilling mud? → To lubricate the drill bit and control pressure
30. Which type of BOP ram can close and seal the wellbore around any size of drill pipe or even on an open hole? → Annular preventer (Spherical BOP)