AMPP CP2 Cathodic Protection Technician

A CP technician observes that a rectifier has been providing stable DC output for months, but in the past week the DC output current has risen by 30% with no voltage change. Which cause is MOST likely?

• AAnode bed degradation
• BImproved coating
• CNew coating holiday or increased CP demand on the structure
• DRectifier diode failure

Which technique does a CP Technician use to locate small coating defects along a pipeline without excavation?

• AClose Interval Potential Survey (CIPS)
• BDirect Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) survey
• COver-the-line structure potential at 1 km intervals
• DPipe-to-electrolyte oscilloscope trace

During an instant-off survey on a pipeline with two rectifiers, both interrupters are synchronized and run for one full cycle. The 'on' potential at test station TS-15 is -1.080 V CSE and 'off' is -0.840 V CSE. What should the technician report?

• AThe 100 mV polarization shift criterion is met
• BThe polarized potential does NOT meet the -850 mV polarized criterion; additional CP curr…
• CThe structure is overprotected
• DThe interrupter is faulty

Which of the following is MOST likely to cause static DC stray current interference on a buried pipeline?

• AAdjacent DC transit system
• BAnother pipeline's operating CP rectifier nearby
• CAdjacent HVAC transmission line
• DNatural telluric currents

A pipeline crossing a high-voltage AC transmission corridor shows 45 V AC induced voltage at a test station. Per NACE SP0177 personnel safety guidance, what action should the CP Technician take?

• AContinue normal work with insulated gloves
• BStop work, mitigate induced AC to below the 15 V AC personnel safety threshold (or apply…
• CIgnore it because CP is unaffected
• DDisconnect the bond

A CP Technician measures a rectifier output of 14.0 V DC and 8.0 A DC. What is the approximate DC output power?

• A22 W
• B1.75 W
• C112 W
• D80 W

Which reference electrode conversion is correct?

• AReading vs Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) ≈ Reading vs CSE + 119 mV (i.e., CSE reading is more negativ…
• BReading vs CSE ≈ Reading vs SHE + 318 mV
• CReading vs Zn reference ≈ 0
• DReading vs Ag/AgCl is always 250 mV more negative than CSE

Why does a CP Technician use a 4-wire linear line-current test station instead of a 2-wire shunt at remote pipeline locations?

• ALower cost
• BThe 4-wire (Kelvin) configuration eliminates lead resistance error when reading very smal…
• C4 wires supply more current
• DRedundancy only

Which impressed-current anode type is DIMENSIONALLY STABLE (consumes very little material during service)?

• AHigh-silicon cast iron (HSCI)
• BGraphite
• CMixed-metal oxide (MMO) on titanium
• DAluminum-zinc-indium

What is the PRIMARY reason to install a polarization cell replacement (PCR) or solid-state decoupler on a bonded-to-ground CP system?

• APass lightning and AC fault current to ground while blocking steady-state DC CP current
• BIncrease anode current
• CReplace a rectifier
• DMeasure pipe temperature

Which statement about the 100 mV polarization shift criterion from NACE SP0169 is correct?

• AIt is measured as the difference between on and off potentials
• BIt is measured as the difference between the instant-off polarized potential and the depo…
• CIt requires a -850 mV reading
• DIt applies only to coated steel

A shorted casing condition is SUSPECTED when:

• APipe-to-electrolyte potentials at the casing are essentially the same as at the carrier p…
• BPipe-to-casing potential is ~0 V or both show the same polarized response
• CCasing is underground
• DCasing is empty

Which of the following is the CORRECT formula for Wenner 4-pin soil resistivity?

• Aρ = R × a
• Bρ = 2π × a × R
• Cρ = R / (2π × a)
• Dρ = π × a² × R

A galvanic anode current shunt on a 17 lb magnesium anode reads 8.0 mV across a 10 mA / 50 mV shunt. What is the current output?

• A1.6 mA
• B8 mA
• C10 mA
• D0.5 mA

Which of the following is the BEST mitigation for DC stray current interference at an exit point on a victim pipeline?

• ACut the victim pipeline
• BInstall a resistance bond, galvanic anode drainage, or supplemental CP at the exit point;…
• CDo nothing
• DIncrease victim coating thickness only

Which NACE/AMPP standard specifically addresses mitigation of AC and lightning effects on metallic structures?

• ASP0169
• BSP0177 (now SP21424)
• CSP0176
• DTM0497

Which rectifier output pattern indicates a short to ground of the positive (anode) cable to a grounded structure?

• AVery low output current and low voltage
• BVery high output current (often tripping the breaker) and lower-than-expected voltage
• CNo change
• DNormal voltage, elevated frequency

What is the typical purpose of adding an interrupter synchronized to GPS time on a CP system being surveyed?

• AProvide backup power
• BEnsure that when multiple CP current sources on a pipeline are interrupted simultaneously…
• CMeasure pipe temperature
• DReplace the rectifier

Which of the following indicates coating damage on a pipeline during a CIPS + DCVG survey?

• AUniform flat on-potential and no DCVG voltage gradient peaks
• BLocalized off-potential less negative than surrounding pipe with a corresponding DCVG pea…
• CConstant rectifier voltage
• DHigh soil resistivity

What is the role of the 'reference cell conversion' skill in a CP Technician's work?

• AOnly for laboratory tests
• BConverting field potential readings between CSE, Ag/AgCl (sat KCl), Ag/AgCl (seawater), Z…
• CChanging units from volts to amps
• DConverting AC to DC

Which is typically the BEST immediate action for a CP Technician who finds a CP bond carrying much more current than designed?

• AIgnore it
• BVerify the measurement, document the as-found current and potentials on both sides of the…
• CCut the bond
• DDouble the rectifier output

On an aboveground storage tank bottom, which standard specifically addresses external CP?

• ANACE SP0169
• BAPI 651 / NACE RP0193
• CNACE SP0177
• DNACE TM0497

A CP Technician is asked to interpret 'pre-construction' native potentials for 3 km of new pipe. The native potentials fall between -0.450 and -0.520 V vs CSE. This suggests:

• AThe pipe is already protected
• BThe pipe is freshly made with a typical uncoated or lightly coated bare-steel native pote…
• CThe pipe is damaged
• DReference calibration is off

Which meter impedance minimum is typically recommended for CP pipe-to-soil potential measurements in soil?

• A≥1 kΩ
• B≥1 MΩ
• C≥10 MΩ (≥100 MΩ preferred in dry soils)
• D≥1 GΩ

Which of the following is a key difference between the CP1 Tester and CP2 Technician scope of practice?

• ACP2 is solely a laboratory role
• BCP2 includes testing, diagnosing, and supervising installation of CP systems, while CP1 p…
• CCP2 designs pipelines
• DCP1 is more advanced

A CP Technician measures native potential = -0.550 V CSE, on-potential = -1.050 V CSE, instant-off = -0.920 V CSE, and final depolarized = -0.600 V CSE. Which criteria are met?

• ANeither the -850 mV polarized nor 100 mV shift criterion
• BBoth the -850 mV polarized criterion (-0.920 V meets) and the 100 mV shift criterion (|0.…
• COnly the 100 mV shift
• DOnly the -850 mV criterion

What is the primary advantage of a close-interval potential survey (CIPS) compared with annual spot-check readings?

• AFaster data collection
• BDetects localized CP deficiencies and coating defects by providing dense spatial sampling…
• CCheaper
• DRequires no rectifier

Which of the following commonly causes a dynamic stray current signature on a pipeline?

• AA parallel HVAC line
• BA nearby DC transit/rail system with varying train loads
• CA pipeline coating layer
• DA reference electrode

Which prerequisite or equivalent training is REQUIRED before CP2 certification?

• ASuccessful completion of CP1 Cathodic Protection Tester (or equivalent training)
• BBachelor's degree in chemistry
• COSHA 30
• DConfined space rescue

Which of the following is the Tafel slope used for in CP work?

• ACounting coupons
• BDescribing the logarithmic relationship between overpotential and current density at an e…
• CMeasuring temperature
• DCalculating interest rates

Which of the following would INDICATE the rectifier is operating in constant-current mode?

• AFixed voltage and variable current
• BFixed current and variable voltage (the rectifier automatically adjusts voltage to keep c…
• CVariable voltage and variable current
• DNo output at all

Which of the following is a LIKELY symptom of an interference pickup point on a victim pipeline?

• AMore negative potentials than native in the absence of local CP
• BLess negative (anodic) potential shifts at the location
• CThermal hot spots
• DIncreased coating thickness

Which of the following is the BEST method for a CP Technician to measure soil resistivity for a future anode bed design?

• AA single Wenner 4-pin reading at one spacing
• BMultiple Wenner 4-pin readings at increasing pin spacings to develop a layered resistivit…
• CPipe-to-soil potential
• DClamp-on ammeter

Which of the following rectifier parts is MOST LIKELY to fail due to voltage surges from lightning?

• ATransformer core
• BSilicon diodes and surge protection capacitors
• CFuses only
• DCabinet paint

What is the PURPOSE of a current interrupter timer set to 12 seconds on / 3 seconds off?

• ASave energy
• BAllow the polarized potential to be measured during the 3-second off window while minimiz…
• CExtend rectifier life
• DReduce AC noise

Which of the following is a common cause of HIGH coating resistance readings during a coating conductance (attenuation) test?

• AExtensively damaged coating
• BA well-adhered, high-quality coating with few defects
• CAC interference
• DA disconnected test lead

Which of the following is the expected potential of a saturated Ag/AgCl (seawater) reference vs SHE?

• A+0.199 V
• B+0.318 V
• C+0.250 V (approximate for seawater use; slightly different from sat KCl due to chloride c…
• D-0.763 V

What is the primary function of a decoupling device (e.g., polarization cell replacement) installed between a pipeline and its AC ground mat?

• AReplace the rectifier
• BBlock DC while allowing AC to pass, so CP current stays on the pipe but AC fault/induced…
• CImprove coating
• DMonitor temperature

Which is the correct sequence a CP Technician should follow when diagnosing a rectifier whose DC output has dropped significantly?

• AImmediately replace the rectifier
• B1) Verify AC input voltage, 2) check fuses/breakers, 3) measure rectifier output V and I,…
• CAdjust taps randomly
• DDisconnect the pipe

Under what circumstance would the 100 mV polarization shift criterion be preferred over the -850 mV polarized criterion?

• AAlways
• BWhen the structure is at elevated temperature (>40°C), contains dissimilar metals, or is…
• CNever
• DWhen using a zinc reference electrode

Which of the following is NOT a primary purpose of the Kelvin (4-wire) linear test station?

• AMeasure line current accurately
• BReduce lead resistance error in small mV drops
• CDrive CP current onto the pipeline
• DCalibrate pipe longitudinal resistance

Which regulatory body typically requires CP compliance monitoring for natural gas transmission pipelines in the U.S.?

• AEPA
• BDOT PHMSA (49 CFR Part 192)
• CFCC
• DFAA

PHMSA 49 CFR Part 192.465 requires rectifier inspections at intervals not exceeding:

• AOnce a year
• BSix times per calendar year at intervals not exceeding 2½ months
• CEvery 5 years
• DOnce per decade

Which of the following is TRUE about CP system monitoring on an aboveground storage tank (AST)?

• AReference electrodes are easy to install
• BPlacement of reference electrodes under the tank is challenging; external perimeter refer…
• CNo monitoring is needed
• DOnly visual inspection is required

What is the PURPOSE of 'depolarization' in CP testing?

• AIncrease rectifier output
• BTo measure the final native potential (after CP is removed and the structure returns towa…
• CSave energy
• DClean the anode

A pipeline is newly commissioned with impressed current CP. The rectifier has been on for 2 hours. What has PROBABLY NOT yet occurred?

• AInitial current flow
• BFull polarization of the structure, which may take days to weeks to stabilize
• CMeter readings possible
• DCurrent at the anode bed