Patent ID: 9284785
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: E21B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation, the bit comprising: a bit body having a bit axis and a direction of rotation about the bit axis; at least three blades attached to the bit body, the at least three blades having a leading face facing the direction of rotation of the bit body about the bit axis, a trailing face facing away from the direction of rotation of the bit body about the bit axis, and a formation facing surface extending between the leading face and the trailing face; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the at least three blades, each cutting element having a radial distance from the bit axis, wherein a first blade, at its leading face, comprises, between first and second radially adjacent cutting elements on the first blade, a raised depth of cut feature for a third cutting element on a second blade and a fourth cutting element on a third blade, the third and fourth cutting elements being at radial distances from the bit axis intermediate the radial distances from the bit axis of the radially adjacent first and second cutting elements, the raised depth of cut feature comprising a first apex corresponding to the third cutting element and a second apex corresponding to the fourth cutting element.