IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,435,592
Granted Patent B2
US 12,435,592 · App. 18/519,791 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Self-cleaning impulse turbine and bearing in fluid contaminated with solids

Inventors: Ryan W. McChesney (Carrollton, TX); Gordon McLeary (Carrollton, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B31/005E21B28/00E21B41/0085F01D25/002F05D2260/607
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,435,592
App. No.
18/519,791
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus configured to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation. The apparatus comprises one or more components configured to induce a vibration within a turbine to mitigate debris buildup on a rotor of the turbine, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about a central axis when a flow of fluid interacts with the turbine.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus configured to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation comprising:

one or more components configured to induce a vibration within an impulse turbine to mitigate debris buildup on a rotor of the impulse turbine, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about a central axis when a flow of fluid interacts with the impulse turbine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration via imbalance in the rotor, turbulence in the fluid within the impulse turbine, and pressure variance in the impulse turbine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration to mitigate magnetic debris buildup on the rotor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components temporarily induce the vibration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components includes one or more weights coupled to the rotor to induce an imbalance in the rotor when rotating about the central axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more weights are positioned on the rotor radially outward from the central axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components includes one or more fins proximate the rotor to induce a pressure imbalance in the fluid surrounding the turbine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components includes a nozzle configured to induce turbulence in the fluid surrounding the rotor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration to mitigate non-magnetic debris buildup on the rotor.

10. A system comprising:

An impulse turbine configured to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, wherein a rotor of the impulse turbine is configured to rotate about a central axis when a flow of fluid interacts with the impulse turbine; and

one or more components configured to induce a vibration within the impulse turbine to mitigate debris buildup on the rotor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration via imbalance in the rotor, turbulence in the fluid within the impulse turbine, and pressure variance in the turbine.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration to mitigate magnetic debris buildup on the rotor.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components temporarily induce the vibration.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components includes one or more weights coupled to the rotor to induce an imbalance in the rotor when rotating about the central axis.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more weights are positioned on the rotor radially outward from the central axis.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components includes one or more fins proximate the rotor to induce a pressure imbalance in the fluid surrounding the turbine.

17. A method comprising:

positioning an impulse turbine in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, wherein a rotor of the impulse turbine is configured to rotate about a central axis when a flow of fluid interacts with the impulse turbine; and

inducing, via one or more components, a vibration within the impulse turbine to mitigate debris buildup on the rotor.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration via imbalance in the rotor, turbulence in the fluid within the turbine, and pressure variance in the turbine.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more components are configured to induce the vibration to mitigate magnetic debris buildup on the rotor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2023
From: MCCHESNEY, RYAN W.; MCLEARY, GORDON
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 065669/0657 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250172050A1 · May 29, 2025
References Cited (22)
US 4890682A · Worrall · 1990 [cited by examiner]
US 5626200A · Gilbert · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 8201641B2 · Allahar · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 9415428B2 · Gharib et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9506318B1 · Brunet · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 10350614B2 · Burford et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10987704B2 · Davies et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11753894B1 · Baghdady et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20010006108A1 · Brett · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 20040074883A1 · Kilburn · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20050035096A1 · Kilburn · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20070194773A1 · Dankert · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20090266612A1 · Allahar · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100326733A1 · Anderson · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20140260307A1 · Dorshimer · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20170130578A1 · Skerry · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170254182A1 · Gregory et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180156001A1 · Schwendemann · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200291773A1 · Turner · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 219412545 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
“Types of Hydropower Turbines”, from the US Department of Energy, accessed Apr. 16, 2025 via https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/types-hydropower-turbines. [cited by examiner]
American Heritage Dictionary definition of “turbine”, accessed Apr. 15, 2025 via https://ahdictionary.com/. [cited by examiner]