Patent ID: 8082134

Claim:
A computer implemented method of designing a hybrid drill bit, comprising: simulating the hybrid drill bit drilling in an earth formation, wherein the simulating comprises: incrementally rotating the hybrid drill bit; determining a position of at least one fixed cutting element of the hybrid drill bit after the incremental rotation; determining a position of at least one roller cone cutting element of the hybrid drill bit after the incremental rotation; determining a portion of the earth formation cut by the at least one fixed cutting element and the roller cone cutting element; and removing the cut portion from the simulating; adjusting a value of at least one design parameter for the hybrid drill bit based on the simulating; repeating the simulating and adjusting to change a simulated performance of the hybrid drill bit, until a desired set of bit design parameters is obtained; and outputting an optimized hybrid drill bit design based on the simulating, adjusting, and repeating.