API 571 Exam Preparation Course

Course Objectives

The API RP 571 (3rd Edition – 2020) provides comprehensive guidance on damage mechanisms affecting equipment in refining and petrochemical industries.

Understanding these mechanisms is a critical step in ensuring equipment integrity, safety, and reliability. It also plays a key role in the proper implementation of inspection codes such as API 510, API 570, and API 653, as well as Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) per API 580 and API 581.

In addition, accurate identification of damage mechanisms is essential when performing Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessments according to API 579.

This course provides a structured and practical approach to understanding all damage mechanisms listed in API 571, along with their causes, effects, inspection methods, and prevention techniques, with a strong focus on exam preparation.

Who Should Attend

• Mechanical Engineers
• Process Engineers
• Inspection Engineers
• Maintenance Engineers
• Plant Inspectors
• Designers working in Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industries

Course Outlines

 Day 1: Fundamentals & Introduction

1. Corrosion Fundamentals

• Definition and real-world examples
• Why metals corrode
• Forms of corrosion
• General corrosion control methods
• Common alloys in refining & petrochemical industries

2. API 571 Overview

• Introduction to API RP 571 (2020 Edition)
• What’s new in the latest edition
• Comparison: 2011 vs 2020 edition
• Terms and definitions

3. Damage Mechanisms (Part 1)

• 885°F (475°C) Embrittlement
• Amine Corrosion
• Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking

 Day 2: Damage Mechanisms (Part 2)

• Ammonia Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Ammonium Bisulfide Corrosion
• Ammonium Chloride / Amine Hydrochloride Corrosion
• Aqueous Organic Acid Corrosion
• Atmospheric Corrosion
• Boiler Water & Steam Condensate Corrosion
• Brine Corrosion
• Brittle Fracture

 Day 3: Damage Mechanisms (Part 3)

• Carbonate Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Carburization
• Caustic Corrosion
• Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Cavitation
• Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking

 Day 4: Damage Mechanisms (Part 4)

• CO₂ Corrosion
• Concentration Cell Corrosion
• Cooling Water Corrosion
• Corrosion Fatigue
• Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
• Creep & Stress Rupture

 Day 5: Damage Mechanisms (Part 5)

• Dealloying
• Decarburization
• Dissimilar Metal Weld Cracking
• Erosion / Erosion-Corrosion
• Ethanol Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Flue Gas Dew Point Corrosion
• Fuel Ash Corrosion
• Galvanic Corrosion

 Day 6: Damage Mechanisms (Part 6)

• Oxygen-enhanced Ignition & Combustion
• Graphitic Corrosion of Cast Iron
• Graphitization
• High-temperature H₂ / H₂S Corrosion
• High-temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA)
• Hydrochloric Acid Corrosion

 Day 7: Damage Mechanisms (Part 7)

• Hydrofluoric Acid Corrosion
• HF Acid SCC in Nickel Alloys
• Hydrogen Embrittlement
• Hydrogen Stress Cracking
• Liquid Metal Embrittlement
• Mechanical Fatigue

 Day 8: Damage Mechanisms (Part 8)

• Metal Dusting
• Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)
• Naphthenic Acid Corrosion
• Nitriding
• Oxidation
• Oxygenated Water Corrosion

 Day 9: Damage Mechanisms (Part 9)

• Phenol Corrosion
• Phosphoric Acid Corrosion
• Polythionic Acid SCC
• Refractory Degradation
• Stress Relaxation Cracking
• Short-term Overheating
• Sigma Phase Embrittlement
• Soil Corrosion

 Day 10: Damage Mechanisms (Part 10)

• Sour Water Corrosion
• Spheroidization
• Strain Aging
• Sulfidation
• Sulfuric Acid Corrosion
• Temper Embrittlement
• Thermal Fatigue
• Thermal Shock
• Titanium Hydriding
• Wet H₂S Damage (HIC / SSC / SOHIC / Blistering)

Exam Preparation

• Full Mock Exam Practice
• Solved Questions & Explanations
• Key Exam Tips & Strategies
• Focus on frequently asked questions

 Course Outcome

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and analyze all damage mechanisms in API 571
• Apply inspection techniques effectively
• Support RBI and FFS assessments
• Make accurate engineering decisions
• Pass the API 571 Exam with confidence