Patent ID: 9145740
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation, the bit comprising: a bit body having a bit axis, a bit face, and a direction of rotation about the bit axis, wherein the bit face includes a cone region, a shoulder region, and a gage region; a first blade having a cutter-supporting surface and extending radially along the bit face; a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the first blade, each primary cutter element on the first blade being mounted in a different radial position relative to the bit axis in the cone region and the shoulder region, and wherein each primary cutter element has a cutting face that is forward-facing relative to the direction of rotation, wherein each cutting face defines a cutting profile in rotated profile view, wherein the cutting profiles of the plurality of cutting faces define an outermost cutting profile P a first stabilizing member mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the first blade, the first stabilizing member having a longitudinal axis and a concave end distal the cutter-supporting surface of the first blade; wherein the concave end of the first stabilizing member includes a first formation-facing surface extending to a first tip distal the cutter-supporting surface and a second formation-facing surface extending to a second tip distal the cutter-supporting surface, wherein the first formation-facing surface intersects the second formation-facing surface, and wherein the first formation-facing surface extends from the second formation-facing surface to the first tip and the second formation-facing surface extends from the first formation-facing surface to the second tip, and wherein the first tip and the second tip are each offset from the outermost cutting profile P