Patent ID: 8720609

Claim:
A method of drilling a subterranean earth formation, the method comprising the steps of: rotating a drill bit having a plurality of blades, each blade having a forward facing face, with respect to a direction of rotation of the bit, with at least first and second rows of cutting elements disposed within individual pockets at least partially recessed into the face and having an abrasion resistance, wherein the plurality of blades are formed of a blade material having an abrasion resistance that is less than the abrasion resistance of the cutting elements; abrading the blades beyond the first row of cutting elements, thereby exposing the second row of cutting elements to the earth formation, wherein the cutting elements in the first and second rows are uniform, such that the cutting elements in the first and second rows are polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements; wherein the blade material erodes when it comes into frictional contact with the earth formation being drilled after the first row of cutting elements has been abraded; wherein none of the cutting elements of the second row contacts the formation until one of the cutting elements of the first row fails, and wherein the first row of cutting elements forms a first curved cutting profile, the second row of cutting elements forms a second curved cutting profile, the second profile is substantially identical to the first profile, and the second profile is offset from the first profile.