IMPROVED GAGE CONFIGURATIONS FOR DRILL BITS

摘要

A drill bit includes a plurality of cutting elements are positioned on the a t least two roller cones, wherein cutting elements contributing to an operative gage row of the drill bit comprise less than 31 percent of a total cutting elements of the drill bit that conta ct the bottom of the borehole. A method to design a roller cone drill bit includes designing an initial bit, testing the initial bit; and adjusting the bit design to optimize at least one of rate o f penetration and wear resistance, wherein cutting elements contributing to an operative gage row o f the adjusted bit design comprise less than 31 percent of a total of cutting elements on the adjusted bit design that contact a bottom of a borehole.