API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

I was wondering what kind of preparation strategy one should adopts whenever he is planning to sit
for an API exam. I have tried many but at the end the most effective one in my point of view is to
study the main API standard by theme. And then with every theme try to summarize it into some
illustrations. For our brain it is easier to remember stories and pictures. Why not to use such asset?

Here I will try to explain my approach with an example. Let’s say we are preparing API 510 exam.
Many of API 510 exam questions are related to role and responsibilities of the inspector and other
entities. Now, let’s say I want to understand the role of a corrosion specialist as per API 510. For that
I should go through all API 510 book and collect all clauses making reference to a Corrosion Specialist.
I then collect into an excel table:

Chapter Paragraph Sub Paragraph Article Details

3. Terms, 3.1 Terms and 3.1.12 corrosion specialist
Definitions, Definitions A person acceptable to the owner-operator, who is
Acronyms, and knowledgeable and experienced in
Abbreviations 01. the specific process chemistries,
02. damage mechanisms,
03. materials selection,
04. corrosion mitigation methods,
05. corrosion-monitoring techniques,
and their impact on equipment.

5. Inspection, 5.1 Inspection 5.1.2 5.1.2.1 The inspection plan shall be developed by the inspector
Examination, and Plans Development of and/or engineer.
Pressure-testing an Inspection Plan A corrosion specialist shall be consulted to identify
Practices 01. credible damage mechanisms and
02. susceptible areas for
02.1. localized corrosion,
02.2. cracking,
02.3. corrosion under insulation/corrosion
under fireproofing (CUI/CUF)
02.4. metallurgical damage.
See 5.4.1.

5. Inspection, 5.5 Types of 5.5.2 Pressure 5.5.2.3 The inspector, in consultation with the corrosion
Examination, and Inspection Vessel Internal Internal specialist, should determine when it is necessary to
Pressure-testing and Inspection Deposits remove deposits or linings to perform adequate
Practices Surveillance and inspections.
for Pressure Linings
Vessels
5. Inspection, 5.5 Types of 5.5.5 Thickness 5.5.5.3 The inspector …….should consult with a corrosion
Examination, and Inspection Examination specialist when the short-term corrosion rate changes
Pressure-testing and significantly from the previous identified rate to
Practices Surveillance determine the cause.
for Pressure
Vessels
5. Inspection, 5.6 Condition- 5.6.3 CML 5.6.3.1 ...For pressure vessels susceptible to damage
Examination, and monitoring Selection and mechanisms other than relatively general thinning such
Pressure-testing Locations Placement as localized corrosion, embrittlement and cracking
Practices (CMLs) mechanisms, corrosion specialists should be consulted
about the appropriate placement and number of CMLs.

5. Inspection, 5.6 Condition- 5.6.3 CML 5.6.3.2 CMLs may be eliminated or the number significantly
Examination, and monitoring Selection and reduced when the probability and/or consequence of
Pressure-testing Locations Placement failure is low (e.g., clean noncorrosive hydrocarbon
Practices (CMLs) service). In circumstances where CMLs will be
substantially reduced or eliminated, a corrosion
specialist should be consulted.
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

Chapter Paragraph Sub Paragraph Article Details

5. Inspection, 5.7 Condition- 5.7.1 Examination 5.7.1.1 In selecting the technique(s) to use during a pressure
Examination, and monitoring Technique General vessel inspection, the possible types of damage for that
Pressure-testing Methods Selection vessel should be taken into consideration. The inspector
Practices should consult with a corrosion specialist or an engineer
to help define the type of damage, the NDE technique,
and extent of examination
5. Inspection, 5.10 5.10.3 (01)Crack-like flaws, (02)environmental cracking and
Examination, and Inspection of (03)preferential weld corrosion shall be assessed by the
Pressure-testing In-service inspector and either an engineer or corrosion specialist
Practices Welds
7. Inspection Data 7.1 Corrosion 7.1.1 Existing 7.1.1.2 When evaluating corrosion rates as part of the data
Evaluation, Rate Pressure Vessels assessment, the inspector, in consultation with a
Analysis, and Determinatio corrosion specialist, shall select the corrosion rate that
Recording n best reflects the current conditions.
7. Inspection Data 7.1 Corrosion 7.1.2 Newly For a new vessel or for a vessel for which service
Evaluation, Rate Installed Pressure conditions are being changed, one of the following
Analysis, and Determinatio Vessels or methods shall be used to determine the vessel’s
Recording n Changes in probable corrosion rate. The remaining life and
Service inspection interval can be estimated from this rate.
……
c) A corrosion rate may be estimated by a corrosion
specialist.
……

Each article shall be annotated by my own words

Article Details Annotations

3.1.12 corrosion specialist Owner-Operator is responsible to choose the
A person acceptable to the owner-operator, who is Corrosion Specialist
knowledgeable and experienced in 05 areas of expertise are required from a corrosion
01. the specific process chemistries, specialist
02. damage mechanisms,
03. materials selection,
04. corrosion mitigation methods,
05. corrosion-monitoring techniques,
and their impact on equipment.

5.1.2.1 The inspection plan shall be developed by the inspector Notice the shall statement.
and/or engineer.
A corrosion specialist shall be consulted to identify Corrosion specialist shall be consulted to identify 02
01. credible damage mechanisms and topics when developing an ITP by the inspector
02. susceptible areas for and/or engineer.
02.1. localized corrosion, 01 Credidible damahe mechanisms
02.2. cracking, 02 Susceptable areas / Locations related to 04
02.3. corrosion under insulation/corrosion under specific damage mechanisms
fireproofing (CUI/CUF)
02.4. metallurgical damage.
See 5.4.1.

5.5.2.3 The inspector, in consultation with the corrosion Notice the Should Statement.
Internal specialist, should determine when it is necessary to
Deposits remove deposits or linings to perform adequate It is a recommendation for the inspector to consult
and Linings inspections. the corrosion specialist to determine if it is necessary
to remove deposits or linings for inspection purposes
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties
Article Details
5.5.5.3 The inspector …….should consult with a corrosion
specialist when the short-term corrosion rate changes
significantly from the previous identified rate to
determine the cause.
5.6.3.1 ...For pressure vessels susceptible to damage mechanisms
other than relatively general thinning such as localized
corrosion, embrittlement and cracking mechanisms,
corrosion specialists should be consulted about the
appropriate placement and number of CMLs.
5.6.3.2 CMLs may be eliminated or the number significantly
reduced when the probability and/or consequence of
failure is low (e.g., clean noncorrosive hydrocarbon
service). In circumstances where CMLs will be
substantially reduced or eliminated, a corrosion specialist
should be consulted.
5.7.1.1 In selecting the technique(s) to use during a pressure
General vessel inspection, the possible types of damage for that
vessel should be taken into consideration. The inspector
should consult with a corrosion specialist or an engineer to
help define the type of damage, the NDE technique, and
extent of examination
5.10.3 (01)Crack-like flaws, (02)environmental cracking and
(03)preferential weld corrosion shall be assessed by the
inspector and either an engineer or corrosion specialist
7.1.1.2 When evaluating corrosion rates as part of the data
assessment, the inspector, in consultation with a corrosion
specialist, shall select the corrosion rate that best reflects
the current conditions.
7.1.2 For a new vessel or for a vessel for which service
conditions are being changed, one of the following
methods shall be used to determine the vessel’s probable
corrosion rate. The remaining life and inspection interval
can be estimated from this rate.
……
c) A corrosion rate may be estimated by a corrosion
specialist.
……
Now that we made our journey on explaining what API 510 is saying about corrosion Specialist, let’s
now make a story about it. For that we need some actors. Let me introduce them to you. Basically we
have 04 actors and here their pictures and names.
Annotations
Notice the Should Statement.
It is a recommendation for the inspector to consult
the corrosion specialist whenever Short Term
Corrosion rate changes significantly.
Notice the clear reference to the Short Term not the
Long term corrosion rate.
Radical change of short corrosion rate means that
there are service changes that caused it. A proper
root cause analysis should than be performed. This
kind of change can affect radically the calculated
remaining life of the equipment and thus the
inspection intervals.
Notice the Should Statement.
Consulting with corrosion specialist about the
placement and number of CMLs is recommended for
localized damage mechanisms. This is in line with
what is said in 5.1.2.1
Notice the Should Statement.
It is a recommendation: CMLs reduced --> corrosion
specialist should be consulted.
Notice the Should Statement.
It is a recommendation: It is always better to ask for
help and support from other experts!!!
Notice the Shall statement.
The inspector shall not assist alone these 03 special
damage mechanism. He shall do it either with an
Enginner or a corrosion specialist
Note the shall statement.
The inspector is the first responsible for corrosion
rate selection. It is recommanded to consult the
Corrosion specialist.
New Vessels or Vessels for which service conditions
are being changed have no Base line to allow proper
Corrosion Rate calculation based on Thickness
Measurement. One way to deal with this is that the
Corrosion Specialist may specify a corrosion rate to
be adopted to fix the next inspection interval.
API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

Mr Alfred the Authorized API 510 Inspector

Mr Jonathan, the Owner-Operator Corrosion Specialist

Mr Peter the Owner-Operator Engineer

Mr Thomas the Owner-Operator Responsible

 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

Now here what I get after spending sometimes arranging the pictures:

3.1.12. Corrosion specialist

A person acceptable to the owner-operator, who is knowledgeable and experienced in

1. the specific process chemistries,

2. damage mechanisms,
3. materials selection,
4. corrosion mitigation methods,
5. corrosion-monitoring techniques,

and their impact on equipment.

5.1.2.1

The inspection plan shall be developed by the inspector and/or engineer.

A corrosion specialist shall be consulted to identify:
1. credible damage mechanisms and
2. susceptible areas for
2.1. localized corrosion,
2.2. cracking,
2.3. corrosion under insulation/corrosion under fireproofing (CUI/CUF)
2.4. metallurgical damage.
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

5.5.5.3

The inspector …….should consult with a corrosion specialist when the short-term corrosion rate
changes significantly from the previous identified rate to determine the cause.
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

5.6.3.1

...For pressure vessels susceptible to damage mechanisms other than relatively general thinning such
as localized corrosion, embrittlement and cracking mechanisms, corrosion specialists should be
consulted about the appropriate placement and number of CMLs.

5.6.3.2

CMLs may be eliminated or the number significantly reduced when the probability and/or
consequence of failure is low (e.g., clean noncorrosive hydrocarbon service). In circumstances where
CMLs will be substantially reduced or eliminated, a corrosion specialist should be consulted.
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

5.7.1.1

In selecting the technique(s) to use during a pressure vessel inspection, the possible types of damage
for that vessel should be taken into consideration. The inspector should consult with a corrosion
specialist or an engineer to help define the type of damage, the NDE technique, and extent of
examination

5.10.3

Crack-like flaws, environmental cracking and preferential weld corrosion shall be assessed by the
inspector and either an engineer or corrosion specialist
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

7.1.1.2

When evaluating corrosion rates as part of the data assessment, the inspector, in consultation with a
corrosion specialist, shall select the corrosion rate that best reflects the current conditions.

7.1.2

For a new vessel or for a vessel for which service conditions are being changed, one of the following
methods shall be used to determine the vessel’s probable corrosion rate. The remaining life and
inspection interval can be estimated from this rate.
……
c) A corrosion rate may be estimated by a corrosion specialist.
……
 API Closed Book Exam Preparation Strategy: An Example of Corrosion Specialist Duties

Now you can print out these Cards and have a look into them from time to time to refresh the
memory and good luck. Try to do the same for other topics stated in API 510 book.
Ali SASSI
30/05/2023
Mail: ali.essassi@gmail.com