API-580 Exam Questions Tutorials

As stated in API 580, Introduction (page xi):

“The RBI plans also identify equipment that does not require inspection or some other form of mitigation because of the acceptable level of risk associated with the equipment’s current operation. In this way, inspection and maintenance activities can be focused and more cost-effective.”

Options B, C, and D introduce concepts not aligned with the API definition. Option A correctly captures the intent and benefit of an RBI-based plan.

API 580 highlights that while cost reduction is a potential benefit of RBI, the true focus is risk management and equipment integrity. From Section 12.5:

“Inspection costs can be more effectively managed through the use of RBI… The user should recognize that while there is a potential for the reduction of inspection costs through the utilization of RBI, increased equipment integrity and inspection cost optimization should remain the focus.”

This confirms that the main driver for RBI is not cost elimination, but rather the intelligent allocation of inspection resources to preserve equipment integrity.

Option B is incorrect because RBI does not guarantee elimination of internal inspections — only that some may be deferred or replaced with alternative methods.

Option C generalizes effectiveness without case-by-case evaluation.

Option D is false; RBI is designed to optimize, not increase costs.

API 580, in Section 5.1 and throughout the risk evaluation process, uses the term “risk driver” to refer to dominant contributors to the overall risk ranking or score. Specifically:

“The expected outcome from the application of the RBI process should be the linkage of risks with appropriate inspection… The RBI process is capable of generating: … identification of risk drivers.”

These risk drivers are the key parameters (such as a specific damage mechanism, operating condition, or component failure mode) that most significantly impact either the probability or the consequence component of the risk. Hence, the correct interpretation aligns with Option A.