Patent ID: 7035778

Claim:
A method of assaying performance of an earth boring bit of a given size and design comprising: establishing characteristics of the bit of given size and design; simulating a drilling of a hole in a given formation as a function of the characteristics of the bit of given size and design and at least one rock strength of the formation; outputting a performance characteristic of the bit, the performance characteristic including a bit wear condition and a bit mechanical efficiency determined as a function of the simulated drilling; and establishing characteristics of the bit comprises establishing bit geometries, the bit geometries including at least one of a bit matrix shape, bit cross-sectional area, number of cutters, number of critical cutters, axial projected contact area of individual cutters for a given depth of cut or weight-on-bit, total axial projected contact area for a given depth of cut or weight-on-bit, and maximum depth of cut for critical cutters.