Earth boring drill bits with using opposed kerfing for cutters

Abstract

A drill bit configured having eight blades thereon with secondary cutters on four blades using opposed kerfing for the secondary cutters located on four of the blades.

1 . A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprising:
 a bit body having a face, a plurality of primary blades, and a plurality of secondary blades, each secondary blade of the plurality of secondary blades located between two blades of the plurality of primary blades;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on a first blade of the plurality of primary blades in radial positions thereon;   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the first blade of the plurality of primary blades, the second plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial position behind the first plurality of cutting elements being located in radial position at one of substantially between the cutting elements disposed in front thereof and substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof;   a third plurality of cutting elements disposed in radial positions on a first blade of the plurality of secondary blades, the first blade of the plurality of secondary blades located adjacent the first blade;   a fourth plurality of cutting elements disposed on a second primary blade of the plurality of blades; and   a fifth plurality of cutting elements disposed on the second blade of the plurality of primary blades in radial positions thereon, the fifth plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial positions behind the fourth plurality of cutting elements being located substantially between the cutting elements disposed in front thereof, at least some of the fifth plurality of cutting elements having substantially the same radial positions on the drill bit as the radial positions of the first plurality of cutting elements on the first blade of the plurality of primary blades.   
   
   
       2 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit includes one of an even number of blades thereon and an odd number of blades thereon. 
   
   
       3 . The drill bit of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of cutting elements of the at least one type and a plurality of cutting elements of at least another, different type are disposed on each blade. 
   
   
       4 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cutting elements are disposed in pockets formed in the blades. 
   
   
       5 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cutting elements comprise one of superabrasive cutting elements and abrasive cutting elements. 
   
   
       6 . The drill bit of  claim 5 , wherein the superabrasive cutting elements comprise PDC cutting elements and the abrasive cutting elements comprise tungsten carbide cutting elements. 
   
   
       7 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein a central portion of an outer profile of the face is configured as an inverted cone and is surrounded by a nose. 
   
   
       8 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein cutting elements are selected from the group consisting of a PDC cutting element, a thermally stable diamond cutting element, and a natural diamond cutting element. 
   
   
       9 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting elements are selected from the group consisting of a tungsten carbide cutting element, another metal carbide cutting element and a ceramic. 
   
   
       10 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the second primary blade of the plurality of primary blades is located approximately 180° circumferentially from the first blade of the plurality of primary blades. 
   
   
       11 . A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprising:
 a bit body having a face at a leading end thereof and a plurality of blades;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on a first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon;   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the first blade of the plurality of blades, the second plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial position behind the first plurality of cutting elements being located in radial position at one of substantially between the cutting elements disposed in front thereof and substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof;   a third plurality of cutting elements disposed in radial positions on a second blade of the plurality of blades, the second blade located adjacent the first blade;   a fourth plurality of cutting elements disposed on a third blade located approximately 180° circumferentially from the first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon; and   a fifth plurality of cutting elements disposed on the third blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon, the fifth plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial positions behind the fourth plurality of cutting elements being located substantially between the cutting elements disposed in front thereof, at least some of the fifth plurality of cutting elements having substantially the same radial positions on the drill bit as the radial positions of the first plurality of cutting elements on the first blade.   
   
   
       12 . The drill bit of  claim 11 , wherein the drill bit includes one of an even number of blades thereon and an odd number of blades thereon. 
   
   
       13 . The drill bit of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of cutting elements of the at least one type and a plurality of cutting elements of at least another, different type are disposed on each blade. 
   
   
       14 . A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprising:
 a bit body having an even number of blades;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on a first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon;   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the first blade of the plurality of blades, the second plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial position behind the first plurality of cutting elements being located in radial position substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof;   a third plurality of cutting elements disposed in radial positions on a second blade of the plurality of blades, the second blade located adjacent the first blade;   a fourth plurality of cutting elements disposed on a third blade located approximately 180° circumferentially from the first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon; and   a fifth plurality of cutting elements disposed on the third blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon, the fifth plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial positions behind the fourth plurality of cutting elements being located substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof, at least some of the fifth plurality of cutting elements having substantially the same radial positions on the drill bit as the radial positions of the first plurality of cutting elements on the first blade.   
   
   
       15 . The drill bit of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cutting elements are disposed in pockets formed in the blades. 
   
   
       16 . The drill bit of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cutting elements comprise one of superabrasive cutting elements and abrasive cutting elements. 
   
   
       17 . A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprising:
 a bit body having an even number of blades;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on a first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon;   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the first blade of the plurality of blades, the second plurality of cutting elements being disposed in one of a radial position including one of substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof and substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof;   a third plurality of cutting elements disposed in radial positions on a second blade of the plurality of blades, the second blade located adjacent the first blade;   a fourth plurality of cutting elements disposed on a third blade located less than approximately 180° circumferentially from the first blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon; and   a fifth plurality of cutting elements disposed on the third blade of the plurality of blades in radial positions thereon, the fifth plurality of cutting elements being disposed in radial positions including one of substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof and substantially behind the cutting elements disposed in front thereof, at least some of the fifth plurality of cutting elements having substantially the same radial positions on the drill bit as the radial positions of the first plurality of cutting elements on the first blade.