Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coiled tubing string that meets specified material properties in a single continuous operation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of conducting a coiled tubing operation. In one implementation, a method includes forming a tubing string, the tubing string having an outer surface. The method also includes applying a coating to an application portion of the outer surface of the tubing string. The application portion includes a portion of the tubing string that will be disposed in a horizontal section of a wellbore, and the coating has a surface energy lower than a surface energy of the outer surface of the tubing string to thereby reduce friction between the tubing string and a casing disposed in the horizontal section of the wellbore as the tubing string is lowered into the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coiled tubing string that meets specified material properties in a single continuous operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coiled tubing string including uncoiling a flat metal sheet from an accumulator; bending the flat metal sheet that is uncoiled from the accumulator into a tubular form such that the edges of the flat metal sheet form a seam along a longitudinal length of the tubular form; welding the seam formed along the longitudinal length to form a tubing string; and coiling the tubing string onto a spool, wherein the tubing string is heat treated to meet specified material properties in a continuous operation from the accumulator to the spool.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coiled tubing string that meets specified material properties in a single continuous operation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a long length of coiled metal tubing or the like using friction stir welding. Successive lengths of metal strip are friction stir welded using a three-pass welding technique to eliminate any edge defects in the resulting strip. The method includes one or more three-pass friction stir welding routines, each of which includes a first pass performed using a tool having a first rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the first rotational direction; a second pass using a tool having a second rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the second rotational direction; and a third pass using a tool having said second rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the second rotational direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a long length of coiled metal tubing or the like using friction stir welding. Successive lengths of metal strip are friction stir welded using a three-pass welding technique to eliminate any edge defects in the resulting strip. The method includes one or more three-pass friction stir welding routines, each of which includes a first pass performed using a tool having a first rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the first rotational direction; a second pass using a tool having a second rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the second rotational direction; and a third pass using a tool having said second rotational direction and a spiral bit pattern corresponding to the second rotational direction.

Abstract: A method of evaluating defects in a friction stir welded seam is provided, the method including: providing a welded sheet of metallic stock, the sheet having a top edge and a bottom edge, opposed side edges, and a joining seam formed between the opposed side edges by means of friction stir welding; isolating a preselected test specimen from the sheet of welded metallic stock, the specimen comprising either the top edge or the bottom edge and a test portion of the seam, with the test portion extending from an intermediate point to either the top or bottom edge and having a longitudinal axis, so that said test portion is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, thereby establishing a test specimen face and a weld root; and detaching the specimen from the sheet and then testing the integrity of said weld root.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a genetically-modified North American PRRS virus, wherein the polynucleotide molecule lacks at least one detectable antigenic epitope of North American PRRS virus. The invention also provides vaccines comprising genetically modified North American PRRS virus, RNA molecules, plasmids and viral vectors comprising the isolated polynucleotide molecules. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules further comprising at least one nucleotide sequence that encodes a detectable heterologous antigenic epitope, and vaccines comprising North American PRRS virus, RNA molecules, plasmids and viral vectors comprising such isolated polynucleotide molecules.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules, including plasmids; viral vectors; and transfected host cells that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a North American PRRS virus; and also North American PRRS viruses encoded thereby. The invention further provides isolated infectious RNA molecules encoding a North American PRRS virus. The invention also provides isolated polynucleotide molecules, infectious RNA molecules, viral vectors, and transfected host cells encoding genetically-modified North American PRRS viruses; and genetically-modified North American PRRS viruses encoded thereby. The invention also provides vaccines comprising such plasmids, RNA molecules, viral vectors, and North American PRRS viruses, and methods of using these vaccines in swine and in other animals. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules, viral vectors, and transfected host cells that comprise a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide of a North American PRRS virus.