Certification Exam Practice Questions

Certified Petroleum Technician Certification Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• What is the primary purpose of a blowout preventer (BOP) in drilling

operations?

• Increase drilling speed
• Prevent uncontrolled release of oil or gas
• Reduce friction in drill pipes
• Enhance oil recovery

Rationale: Blowout preventers are critical safety devices designed to

prevent uncontrolled release of oil or gas from a well.

• Which type of crude oil has the lowest viscosity?
• Heavy crude 1 / 4

• Medium crude
• Light crude
• Extra-heavy crude

Rationale: Light crude oil has lower density and viscosity, making it

easier to transport and refine.

3. The API gravity of crude oil is a measure of:

• Sulfur content
• Density relative to water
• Viscosity
• Flash point

Rationale: API gravity indicates how heavy or light a petroleum

liquid is compared to water.

• What is the main purpose of a separator in petroleum processing?
• Heat crude oil
• Separate oil, gas, and water
• Reduce viscosity
• Remove sulfur

Rationale: Separators are used to divide crude oil into its constituent

phases—oil, gas, and water.

• Which gas is primarily responsible for corrosion in pipelines?
• Oxygen
• Carbon dioxide
• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) 2 / 4

• Methane

Rationale: Hydrogen sulfide is highly corrosive and toxic, requiring

careful handling in pipelines.

• What is the purpose of cathodic protection in pipelines?
• Prevent leaks
• Prevent corrosion
• Increase flow rate
• Control temperature

Rationale: Cathodic protection uses electrical currents to prevent

pipeline corrosion.

7. In petroleum refining, the process of cracking is used to:

• Remove sulfur
• Break large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones
• Mix crude oils
• Remove water

Rationale: Cracking breaks heavy hydrocarbons into lighter fractions

like gasoline and diesel.

• What is the main function of a gas lift system in oil wells?
• Heat the crude
• Assist in lifting oil to the surface
• Measure well pressure
• Remove impurities 3 / 4

Rationale: Gas lift injects gas into the well to reduce fluid density and

improve production.

• Which unit in a refinery converts naphtha into high-octane gasoline?
• Fluid catalytic cracker
• Reforming unit
• Desalting unit
• Alkylation unit

Rationale: The reforming unit increases octane number by converting

naphtha into aromatics and isomerates.

• What is the main hazard associated with crude oil storage tanks?
• Water contamination
• Fire and explosion
• Low pressure
• Pipeline corrosion

Rationale: Crude oil is flammable, and vapors in storage tanks can

lead to fires or explosions.

• What does the term "produced water" refer to in petroleum

operations?

• Water used in drilling
• Water injected into the reservoir
• Water that comes out with oil during production
• Water used for cooling
• / 4