Free turbine pump

Claim 2

In a turbine pump for a well, the combination of: a. an axial flow turbine and an axial flow pump interconnected in end-to-end relation with said turbine above said pump; b. said turbine having a power fluid intake adjacent its upper end and having a spent power fluid exhaust adjacent its lower end; and c. said pump having a well fluid inlet adjacent its upper end, and adjacent said power fluid exhaust, and having a production fluid outlet adjacent its lower end.

Claim 3

A turbine pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said turbine and said pump are interconnected by a shaft carried by an upper bearing above said turbine and a lower bearing below said pump, said upper bearing being exposed to power fluid in said power fluid intake for lubrication purposes, and said shaft having an axial passage for conveying power fluid to said lower bearing to lubricate same.

Claim 4

A turbine pump according to claim 2 including a middle bearing between said turbine and said pump, said shaft having a lubricating port connecting said passage to said middle bearing.

Claim 5

In a fluid operated, free turbine pump system for a well, the combination of: a. at least two tubings set in the well; b. a free turbine pump of a size to be movable through one of said tubings between the surface and an operating position in the well; c. said turbine pump comprising an axial flow turbine and an axial flow pump interconnected in end-to-end relation with said turbine above said pump; d. said turbine having a power fluid intake adjacent its upper end and having a spent power fluid exhaust adjacent its lower end; f. said pump having a well fluid inlet adjacent its upper end, and adjacent said power fluid exhaust, and having a production fluid outlet adjacent its lower end; g. one of said tubings being a supply tubing for conveying power fluid under pressure downwardly in the well from the surface; h. said power fluid intake communicating with said supply tubing; i. another of said tubings being a production tubing for conveying production fluid upwardly in the well to the surface; j. said production fluid outlet communicating with said production tubing; k. power fluid return means for conveying spent power fluid upwardly in the well from said power fluid exhaust to the surface; and l. said well fluid inlet communicating with the well.

Claim 6

In a fluid operated, free turbine pump system for a well, the combination of: a. at least two tubings set in the well; b. a free turbine pump of a size to be movable through one of said tubings between the surface and an operating position in the well; c. said turbine pump comprising an axial flow turbine and an axial flow pump interconnected in end-to-end relation with said turbine above said pump; d. said turbine having a power fluid intake adjacent its upper end and having a spent power fluid exhaust adjacent its lower end; f. said pump having a well fluid inlet adjacent its upper end, and adjacent said power fluid exhaust, and having a production fluid outlet adjacent its lower end; g. one of said tubings being a supply tubing for conveying power fluid under pressure downwardly in the well from the surface; h. said power fluid intake communicating with said supply tubing; i. another of said tubings being a production tubing for conveying production fluid upwardly in the well to the surface; j. said production fluid outlet communicating with said production tubing; k. power fluid return means for conveying spent power fluid upwardly in the well from said power fluid exhaust to the surface; and l. said well fluid inlet communicating with the well.

Claim 7

A free turbine pump system as defined in claim 4 wherein said power fluid return means is said production tubing.

Claim 8

A free turbine pump system as defined in claim 4 wherein said power fluid return means is a third tubing set in the well.

Claim 9

A free turbine pump system as defined in claim 4 wherein said power fluid return means and said production tubing comprise a casing set in the well.