Patent ID: 6651758
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An earth-boring bit having a predetermined gage diameter an a gage curve defined by a bit diameter, journal angle, and journal offset for drilling a borehole, the bit comprising:a bit body having a bit axis; at least three rolling cone cutters rotatably mounted on said bit body and having a generally conical surface and an adjacent heel surface, each cone having a cone axis; a plurality of inner row cutter elements positioned on at least one cone cutter in a first inner row; a plurality of gage-cutting cutter elements positioned in a first fanned-gage row on a first one of said one cutters; a plurality of gage-cutting cutter elements positioned in a second fanned-gage row on a second one of said one cutters; and a plurality of gage-cutting cutter elements positioned in a third fanned-gage row on a third one of said one cutters; wherein the cutter elements in said first fanned-gage row, said second fanned-gage row, and said third fanned-gage row contact the gage curve at different points and said third fanned-gage row cutter elements contact the gage curve at a point above the contact points of the first and second gage-cutting rows.