Problem 53. What is most FALSE about oilfield separators:
(A) Horizontal handles foam but not solids more efficiently than vertical...
(B) SPEC 12J is the standard API reference for oil & gas separator design.
(C) Gravity separation section: reduces entrained liquid load & improves gas velocity profile.
(D) Souders-Brown approach for sizing the gravity separation section...is no longer recommended.
This is a general separator question; see 8 FAC 5. This page quickly shows that A & B are true. Say 90 seconds down.
General knowledge tells me C is true as well, leaving D as the answer; I mark that at 2 minutes.
However, I prefer verification. I'm checking references; the Guidebook recommends HS3 P15-47 and 12J, so I go to HS3 first. After another two minutes I verify from the text that C is indeed true.
Now I'm on to D. I'm pretty sure it's the answer, but again I want to verify this and so check the HS Index for Soulder. Nothing. I check the Dictionary? Nothing. Bradley? Nothing! Next 12J, which I happen by luck to have (1999 edition)? Nothing! Out of desperation, I check Mian. Nothing!! I'm now past my 6 minutes, But I'm pretty sure it's D from process of elimination and I move on. I've wasted a lot of time I could have invested elsewhere.
But for those curious, basically 12J uses a Ks factor via the Souders-Brown equation as an empirical parameter (but never really tells us the how or why). As we have seen, it's is not obvious in any of the common references. Be prepared for this; the solution may not be in any book you have and you must use your experience, common sense, test-taking skills, and the process of elimination. Watch the clock like crazy when using references. As I often say: a person's chances of passing an open-book exam is inversely proportional to the number of pages referenced. And most of the time, it's just a waste of time.
Thanks for posting this one!
ReplyDeleteDavid, where do I get all of the API standards books? Is it practical to bring them to the exam? I heard from someone that there was a API standards questing on the last years exam. But I was told by someone that its either you know it or you don't kinda thing, so you agree?
ReplyDeleteThe TS & HS has API standards, by subject. However:
Delete1. Few people have all the TS, but most have all the HS.
2. However: they are hard to find in each book even with indexes.
3. I include some basics in the GB TOC plus more in sections but not they are comprehensive. It's on my to-do list for the GB; I have all the TS & HS I just need to go through them all indexing the API some year. Note I include typical API Q in my Companions. Hope this helps.