FREE TURBINE PUMP

A free turbine pump for a well including: an axial flow turbine and an axial flow pump interconnected in axially aligned, end-to-end relation with the turbine above the pump, the turbine having a power fluid intake adjacent its lower end and having a power fluid exhaust adjacent its upper end for spent power fluid, the pump having a well fluid inlet adjacent its lower end, and having a production fluid outlet adjacent its upper end and adjacent the power fluid intake; and means between the power fluid intake and the production fluid outlet for balancing axial thrust forces on the turbine and pump. This balancing means includes upperwardly and downwardly facing areas to which the production fluid pressure and the power fluid pressure are applied to achieve axial thrust balance.