API 653

Above Ground Storage Tank

Inspector

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT)

710/3A Ground Floor, Swami Vivekananda Road, Angol, Belgaum-590 006, Karnataka State, India
2 minutes walkable distance from 34 No Marathi Government School Bus Stop

Phone No: +091-831-2484060, Mobile No: +091-9632916690

Email: gindtbelgaum@gmail.com , Website: www.gindt.org
 API 653 - Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector (In-service Inspection)
1. API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, 5th Edition, November 2014,
Addendum 1 (April 2018), Addendum 2 (May 2020), Errata 1 (March 2020)

2. API Recommended Practice 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining
Industry, 3rd Edition, March 2020

3. API Recommended Practice 575, Inspection Practices for Atmospheric and Low-pressure Storage Tanks,
4th Edition, July 2020

4. API Recommended Practice 576, Inspection of Pressure-relieving Devices, 4th Edition, April 2017.
(Sections 4.3.2 and 6.6 only)

5. API Recommended Practice 577, Welding Processes, Inspection, and Metallurgy, 3rd Edition, October
2020.

6. API Standard 650, Welded Tanks for Oil Storage, 13th Edition, March 2020 with Errata 1 (January 2021)

7. API Recommended Practice 651, Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks,
4th Edition, September 2014.

8. API Recommended Practice 652, Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms, 5th Edition,
May 2020

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), 2021 Edition

I. Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7 and 23 (Section SE-797 only)

II. Section IX, Qualification Standard for Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Procedures; Welders; Brazers; and
Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Operators, (Welding only)

Contact us for Preparatory Training – Training Coordinator

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT)

710/3A Ground Floor, Swami Vivekananda Road
Angol, Belgaum - 590 006
Karnataka State, INDIA (भारत )

Phone No.:+091-0831-2484060
Mobile No.:+091-9632916690
Email: gindtbelgaum@gmail.com
sunilgavade@rediffmail.com
Website: www.gindt.org

Format No. GINDT/PT/API-653 Revision: 03 Draft Revision Date: 08-July-2023

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 1 of 7

Details of Examination API-ICP Examination Schedule - 2023

Examination Window Program Schedule/Duration Application Deadline

10-March-2023
API 653 - Aboveground
to 7.5 Hours 06-January-2023
Storage Tank Inspector
31-March-2023
14-July-2023
API 653 - Aboveground
to 7.5 Hours 12-May-2023
Storage Tank Inspector
04-August-2023
03-November-2023
API 653 - Aboveground
to 7.5 Hours 01-September-2023
Storage Tank Inspector
24-November-2023

Exam Structure
The API 653 exam day is 7.5 hours long - a short tutorial session, 2.75 hours for the closed-book
portion, a 45-minute lunch break and 3.75 hours for the open-book portion.
There are 170 questions on the API 653 exam, of which only 140 are scored. The remaining 30 are
pretest questions.
There are 110 closed-book questions and 60 open-book questions.

Preparatory Training from: 11-February-2023 to 20-February-2023

Preparatory Training from: 01-June-2023 to 10-June-2023

 Preparatory Training from: 19 to 29 October, 2023

Indian Rupees INR 28,000/- + GST @ 18%

GST No. 29AANFG1207A2ZT

SAC Code: 999293 Commercial training and coaching services

API-ICP 2023 Examination Fees with CODE’s and Standard’s Books

Note: Purchase the Codes and Standards for your examination as per the applicable Effective Sheet

API-ICP Main Individual Certification Program API-510 API-570 API-653

ICP-Examination Fees in USD $ 940 940 940
Codes and Standards in USD $ 1,161 1,418 1,542
Total in USD $ 2,101 2,358 2,482

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 2 of 7

 API 653
API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, 5th Edition, November
2014, Addendum 1 (April 2018), Addendum 2 (May 2020), Errata 1 (March 2020)

This standard covers steel storage tanks built to API 650 and its predecessor API 12C. It provides
minimum requirements for maintaining the integrity of such tanks after they have been placed in
service and addresses inspection, repair, alteration, relocation, and reconstruction.

The scope is limited to the tank foundation, bottom, shell, structure, roof, attached appurtenances,
and nozzles to the face of the first flange, first threaded joint, or first welding-end connection. Many
of the design, welding, examination, and material requirements of API 650 can be applied in the
maintenance inspection, rating, repair, and alteration of in-service tanks. In the case of apparent
conflicts between the requirements of this standard and API 650 or its predecessor API 12C, this
standard shall govern for tanks that have been placed in service.

This standard employs the principles of API 650; however, storage tank owner/operators, based on
consideration of specific construction and operating details, may apply this standard to any steel
tank constructed in accordance with a tank specification.

This standard is intended for use by organizations that maintain or have access to engineering and
inspection personnel technically trained and experienced in tank design, fabrication, repair,
construction, and inspection.

This standard does not contain rules or guidelines to cover all the varied conditions which may occur
in an existing tank. When design and construction details are not given, and are not available in the
as-built standard, details that will provide a level of integrity equal to the level provided by the
current edition of API 650 must be used.

This standard recognizes fitness-for-service assessment concepts for evaluating in-service

degradation of pressure containing components. API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-For-Service,
provides detailed assessment procedures or acceptance criteria for specific types of degradation
referenced in this standard. When this standard does not provide specific evaluation procedures or
acceptance criteria for a specific type of degradation or when this standard explicitly allows the use
of fitness-for-service criteria, API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 may be used to evaluate the various types of
degradation or test requirements addressed in this standard.

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 3 of 7

 API Standard 650, Welded Tanks for Oil Storage, 13th Edition, March 2020 with Errata 1 (January 2021)

This standard establishes minimum requirements for material, design, fabrication, erection, and
inspection for vertical, cylindrical, aboveground, closed- and open-top, welded storage tanks in
various sizes and capacities for internal pressures approximating atmospheric pressure (internal
pressures not exceeding the weight of the roof plates), but a higher internal pressure is permitted
when additional requirements are met. This standard applies only to tanks whose entire bottom is
uniformly supported and to tanks in non-refrigerated service that have a maximum design
temperature of 93 °C (200 °F) or less.

This standard provides industry with tanks of adequate safety and reasonable economy for use in
the storage of petroleum, petroleum products, and other liquid products. This standard does not
present or establish a fixed series of allowable tank sizes; instead, it is intended to permit the
Purchaser to select whatever size tank may best meet their needs. This standard is intended to help
Purchasers and Manufacturers in ordering, fabricating, and erecting tanks; it is not intended to
prohibit Purchasers and Manufacturers from purchasing or fabricating tanks that meet
specifications other than those contained in this standard.

Following are “11” types of the Corrosion and Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in
the Refining Industry, 3rd Edition, March 2020 as per API 571

Section 2 Terms and Definitions

Sr. No. Clause Mechanisms

1 3.8
2 3.11
3 3.14
4 3.15
5 3.17
6 3.22
7 3.43
8 3.45
9 3.57
10 3.58
11 3.62
Atmospheric Corrosion
Brittle Fracture
Caustic Corrosion
Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking (Caustic Embrittlement)
Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking
Corrosion Under insulation (CUI)
Mechanical Fatigue (Including Vibration-induced Fatigue)
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)
Soil Corrosion
Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)
Sulfuric Acid Corrosion

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 4 of 7

 What you will going to learn?
The topics covered include:

Detailed explanations of all the information covered in the API 653 'Body of Knowledge' including ASME
welding requirements for storage tanks sections IX Welding and API 650 Welded Tanks for Oil Storage.

ASME Non-destructive testing principles and application of section V

Storage tank design review API 650, weld sizes, tank nozzle reinforcement, brittle fracture, weld efficiency
factors, post weld heat treatment; API 653 inspection, repair alteration and reconstruction of tanks,
inspection intervals, inspection requirements, relationships to ASME codes

Corrosion, minimum thickness determination and remaining life calculations; inspection and degradation
mechanisms of API 575, cathodic protection and internal coatings for storage tanks. Safety and preparation
issues on tank floors for repair and MFL-Magnetic Flux Leakage for floors scanning.
Inspection and degradation mechanisms of Above Ground Storage Tanks corrosion and cracking mechanisms,
erosion, common corrodents and Damage Mechanisms, Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI), Erosion/Erosion –
Corrosion.

What else should you know?

Entry Requirements for API Examinations

You must be employed by or under contract to an authorized inspection agency or owner/user organization
as defined in API 653 - Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector (In-service Inspection), Section 1.5.4

You must satisfy one of the combinations of education and experience for the certification you are applying
for:
1) A Bachelor of Engineering or Technology {BE or B.Engg./B.Tech./AMIE (India) } or a Bachelor of Science in
Engineering or BS in Science or higher in engineering, with minimum of 1 years’ experience and skills in
supervision or performance of inspection activities of piping systems as described in API 653.

2) Two-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology, with minimum of 2 years' experience and
skills in design, repair, construction, operation, or inspection of piping systems, of which one year must
be in supervision performance of inspection activities as described in API 653.

3) High school diploma or equivalent, or 3 Year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or Metallurgy with a
minimum of 3 years’ experience and have the same skills as listed in item 2.

4) Have 5 or more years’ experience and same skills as listed in item 2. Conversant with the Oil and Gas
Refineries shutdown or Process Plant Inspector or Inspection Engineer – Welded Tanks for Oil Storage
(In-service or New Construction activities or Repair of API-650 Welded Tanks for Oil Storage)

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 5 of 7

 Sunil B. Gavade

Training Instructor Mr. Sunil B. Gavade is Mechanical Engineer and with more than 30 years of experience in
Steel Plant, Pipes manufacturing mills, Steel Plates, Forges Shop, Foundry, Pumps and Valves, Water
Treatment Plant, Desalination Plants, Petrochemical Plant, Oil and Gas Refineries, Fabrication of Heavy
Engineering equipment for Nuclear Power - Steam Generator and Oil and Gas refineries equipment such as
Coal Gasifier-CGPP, Vacuum distillation column, VDU, CDU, Atmospheric Column, Heavy Naphtha Stripper,
Light Kero Stripper, Heavy Kero Stripper. LGO Stripper, HGO Stripper, Naphtha Stabilizer, Vacuum Column,
Heat Exchangers, Fired Heater. Aluminum Plant, Inspection of Boilers and Pressure Vessels for Various
Thermal and Nuclear Power Plants, Nuclear Power PFBR- Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Nuclear Steam
Generators. Specialist in Piping, valves, materials and codes and standards. Inspection Engineer for
Petrochemical Plant and handling the Corrosion and Metallurgical studies for Oil Refineries and Petrochemical
Plant. Piping Engineering from IIT-Mumbai, Powai, Mumba-400072
ASME Code Stamp work for “S”, “U”, “U2,”U3”, “PP”,”N”,”NPT” and “R” NBBI Repair of Process
equipment’s. Familiar with The National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) NB 23 Part-1 to Part-4
Having vide experience in carrying out In‐service inspection of Oil Refineries and Petrochemical Plant.
RLA - FFS. Pressure Vessels, Heat Exchangers, Piping and Above Ground Storage Tanks.
RBI-Risk Based Inspection and AIMS-Asset integrity management system Oil Refineries and Petrochemical
Plant.
ROB-Railway over Bridge and RUB-Railway under Bridge, Flyover Bridge, Welding, NDT Testing and Training.
Lead Auditor for QMS ISO 9001:2015 and API Spec. Q1 Practitioner for Oil and Gas QMS and API Monogram
related work. Experience in API Specification, API Monograms and 20 SCM-Supply Chain Management
System.

API Spec Q1 9th Edition by the American Petroleum Institute (API) titled "Specification for Quality
Management System Requirements for Manufacturing Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas
Industry".

ISO 29001:2020
Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries — Sector-specific quality management systems —
Requirements for product and service supply organizations.

ISO 19443:2018 Nuclear energy sector

Quality management systems — Specific requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2015 by organizations
in the supply chain of the Nuclear energy sector supplying products and services important to nuclear safety
(ITNS)

API 20 Series – Supply Chain Management (SCM)

• Specification 20A: Castings for use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20B: Open Die Forgings for use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20C: Closed Die Forgings for use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20D: Qualification of Nondestructive Testing Operations for use in the Petroleum and
Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20E: Specification for Low Alloy Steel Bolting for Pressure Containing Gas Equipment.

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 6 of 7

 • Specification 20F: Specification for CRA Steel Bolting for Pressure Containing Gas Equipment.

• Specification 20G: Welding services used in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20H: Heat treat services used in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry.

• Specification 20I: Quality requirements for Distributors of Raw materials for use in the Petroleum and
Natural Gas Industry.

ISO 3834-1:2021
Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 1: Criteria for the selection of the
appropriate level of quality requirements

ISO 3834-2:2021
Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 2: Comprehensive quality requirements

ISO 3834-3:2021
Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 3: Standard quality requirements

ISO 3834-4:2021
Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 4: Elementary quality requirements

EN 15085 (Welding of Railway Vehicles and Components) and certification Process

Certification process, Classification, Fabrication, Inspection and certification requirements of the Welding
Manufacturers for Welding of Railway Vehicles and Components

Indian Railways Guidelines as per

BS 110 (R) Guideline of Fabrication of steel girders for Construction Field Engineer
Edition: March, 2016 (With Addendum & Corrigendum of July, 2017)
Issued by : B&S Directorate
RDSO-Research Designs and Standards Organisation, Lucknow-226011, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

Work Location: SWR-South Western Railways, Hubli Division, Kusgal Road ROB-Railway Over Bridge, INDIA

Inspection of Fabricated Aluminum Coach for Indian Railways as per the requirements of
LHB-Linke Hofmann Busch
Welding Inspection of Aluminum Plates and relevant NDT Inspection.
WPQ-Welder Performance Qualification
WOPQ-Welding Operator Performance Qualification

New Construction Inspection of API 650 API-650 Welded Tanks for Oil Storage and
API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, 5th Edition, November 2014,
Addendum 1 (April 2018), Addendum 2 (May 2020), Errata 1 (March 2020)

AWS-American Welding Society, SME-Subject Matter Expert-Welding

Format No. GINDT/PT/API-653 Revision:03 Draft Revision Date: 08-July-2023

Gavade Institute of Nondestructive Testing & Training (GINDT) Page 7 of 7