In this module you shall learn about:
API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspectors must have a broad knowledge base relating to construction of new onshore pipeline construction.
This includes:
The API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector Certification Examination is designed to determine if applicants have such knowledge.
Candidates will be given three hours to complete the 115 question (100 scored, 15 not scored) on a computer. Scored and non scored questions are suffled together so you need to answer all the questions.
Questions are multiple-choice and reference materials are not allowed. You can attend the exam at a prometric center of your choice or by remote proctoring from the comfort of your home or office but exam rules remain the same.
US and Canadian government-based safety and environment related reference materials will be provided during the exam on the desktop. You may choose to use either set of references to answer open book questions. This exam has been reviewed and approved by Canadian experts for use by the Canadian pipeline industry.
When a reference has a Canadian equivalent, (for example API 1104 and CSA Z662-19), candidate may choose to study either the American or Canadian reference(s) with the assurance that exam questions will focus on areas where the technical content overlaps.
Please note that the keyword search function (Ctrl + F) is disabled during the exam so you should know where to look for during the open book part of the exam. We recommend flagging them off and attempt them at the end since looking for answers could be time consuming.
Some questions may only be answered using US OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926). These questions are clearly identified in the exam and will say “according to OSHA” in order that applicants will know to use the OSHA regulations provided during the exam to answer these questions.
To determine whether the applicants have sufficient knowledge of inspection practices and related topics, a minimum of one question from each main category listed within this Body of Knowledge will be included on the API certification examination, that is, 12-15 open book questions on average.
Only information covered in one of the referenced materials listed in the body of knowledge or publication effectivity sheet will be utilized for the examination questions.
We have highlighted the reference documents as per body of knowledge marking potential questions (see module 15). You can download these marked documents or alternatively download them via API ICP website.
The inspector should be knowledgeable of general inspection responsibilities, requirements and expectations for pipeline construction that enable him/her to effectively carry out his/her duties.
The following is a list of topics that an applicant should be familiar with and expect to be tested during the API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspection exam:
o Quality assurance (records, measurement, documentation)
o Safety (basic site safety, roles and responsibilities)
o Environmental (permits, SWPPP, BMP’s, etc.)
o Training and Qualifications
o Survey & Staking
o Line Locating
o ROW Clearing/Grading
− Alignment sheets (e.g., extra workspace, PI locations, special conditions)
− Specifications (e.g., width, right of way, grubbing, topsoil segregation)
− Permits (e.g., road crossing, road access, railroad, encroachment)
− Special landowner requirements (e.g., line list)
− Written and/or electronic reporting
o Stringing
− Materials identification (e.g., pipe grade, wall thickness, coating, heat and pipe number)
− Materials defects / condition
− Handling requirements (e.g., lifting, loading and unloading, equipment, stacking, securing)
− Pipe tally / pipe placement (e.g., placed per alignment drawings, seam locations)
− Specifications (e.g., minimum equipment requirements)
− Written electronic reporting (e.g., stringing distances and skips, number of joints)
o Bending
− Pipe ovality and wrinkles (e.g., CFR192)
− Proper bending equipment (e.g., liners, mandrels, shoes, angle measurement)
− Specifications (e.g., bending requirements, tangents, maximum angles, seam alignments, coating or metal damage)
− Written electronic reporting (e.g., bend location, as built)
o Welding/NDE
− Specifications, qualified procedures, qualified personnel, documentation, material/consumable control, testing (equipment and products)
o Trenching
o Crossings/Drills
− Specifications, clearances, type of bores, voids, crossing agreements/permits, cased vs. uncased crossings, pipe condition
o Coating
− Specifications, qualified procedures, qualified personnel, documentation, material/consumable control, testing (equipment and products)
o Padding/Lowering in
− Proper equipment (e.g., lifting, cradles, slings)
− Specifications (e.g., spacing, location in ditch, depth, ditch preparation, sandbag placement, benching)
− Lifting plans (e.g., boom spacing, lift height, boom size, number of booms)
− Written / electronic Reporting (e.g., amount, damage, holiday detection)
o Tie-ins
− Specifications (e.g., alignment, OQ)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., location, amount)
− Material identification (e.g., pipe number, heat number, cutoff length)
− Material Placement (e.g., transition, pipe support)
o Cathodic Protection
− Alignment sheets (e.g., location, type, length)
− Specifications (e.g., connection, wire size, anode ground beds, size, length, location)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., location, amount, as-builts, type)
o As-built Survey
− Redline drawings, alignment sheets showing final as built conditions, dimensions, and characteristics of the pipeline (e.g., weld maps/logs, NDE maps/logs, PI/POT locations, depth of cover, test leads, material and coating information)
o Backfill
− Proper equipment (e.g., type, padding requirements, rock shield, erosion control, weights)
− Padding pipe (e.g., depth, material size, compaction, foam)
− Specifications (e.g., padding amount, material size, bench spacing, compaction, crown)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., quantity and location)
− Buoyancy control (e.g., types, installation, spacing, documentation)
o ROW Clean-up/ Restoration
− Alignment sheets (e.g., special conditions, mile marker placement, re-vegetation, bank stabilization)
− Landowner requirements (e.g., damages, special conditions, fences, restoration)
− Equipment (e.g., LGP, decompaction, seeding)
o Hydrostatic Testing
− Horizontal drilling process, drilling fluids, drill path/profile, geotechnical studies, pull force, radius of
curvature, entry/exit points, entry/exit angles)
− Testing, gauge plate inspections, deformation
o Pigging (Cleaning/Drying)
o Line List close out
o Final completion assessment/Punch out
o Turn over to Operation
We shall provide you with all the concept and knowledge you need to know in order to pass the API 1169 exam.
This includes the complete body of knowledge explained and highlighted.
We have highlighted and included the 12 US open book safety and environmental documents plus four important reference documents (since they are not copy righted).
We shall provide you with flash cards for quick reference that should be treated as potential exam questions.
We shall provide you with mock exam questions that are specifically designed in line with the spirit of API 1169 exam questions.
Our course content goes through seven check points to ensure that it is easy to understand.
It is focused on the body of knowledge and is in line with ISO 29990:2010 Learning services for non-formal education and training — Basic requirements for service providers; so you know what you are expected to learn at the end of each module.
Our course editors are all qualified API 1169 Inspectors and engineers who edit the course based on the latest revision and addendums, who have years of industry experience while many of the group members have passed the exam in the past 6 years, so, they are fairly up-to-date.
There are four definite leads to help you understand what type of questions to expect during examination. These are:
1- Publication Effectivity Sheet
2- Body of knowledge
3- Score Report
4- Experience of other candidates who attempted the exam
Regardless of which study plan you may wish to take or which training course you opt for; these leads shall help you to focus your efforts and do the pulse check to ensure that you are on the right track.
You can start the self-study by collecting API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector reference documents.
Obviously, you would save some money but instead may be:
prone to make some silly mistakes that can cost you the success in the exam that you would otherwise rightfully deserve.
miss the chance to review our latest question bank based on actual API score sheets.
miss those key points presented by our team of course editors in the form of flash cards as potential exam questions.
plus missing the all-important concepts that we offer to make your life easier right from the start.
Your approach and study plan are also very important.
If you merely memorize the facts and figures without fully understanding the aspects of pipeline construction and your role as a pipeline inspector, there is still a high chance of getting the answer wrong because API exam questions are often rephrased.
In other words, API questions do not use statements from codes and recommended practices word by word (ad verbatim).
API wants to verify your understanding of concepts and knowledge and how you use them under various scenarios in order to perform as a pipeline construction inspector.
You can choose our training package that has the advantage of explaining core principles and concepts.
Our exam questions are in line with actual API exam questions and aimed at reminding you of the concepts, how to apply these concepts, how to avoid the loopholes and how to handle the trick questions.
We shall explain all these topics in sufficient detail so the course would suit all candidates with any level of knowledge and expertise.
Our training approach helps you solve any relevant question within any context and scenario, since you would be capturing the concept, principle and the theory rather than memorizing some numbers or facts without understanding the underlying reason or how it is applied.
We do not claim that our e-learning courses are the only option to pass the exam, nor we claim that our courses would substitute studying reference codes, standards and recommended practices.
However, we do claim being one of the best API 1169 training providers, because we shall:
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