Importance

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Abstract

A fixed cutter drill bit includes a plurality of angularly spaced radial wings each with a row of cutting elements mounted thereon and protruding from the bit for drilling through formation material. On a first of the wings, a first row of the cutting elements has alternately larger and smaller area cutting faces at spaced selected radial positions relative to the center of the bit. Similarly, a second row of cutting elements is mounted on a second of the wings at substantially the same radial positions but with the radial positions of the larger and smaller cutting faces reversed over those on the first wing. A third wing includes a third row of cutting elements with cutting faces of intermediate area located at each of the selected radial positions. The combination of different sizes of cutting elements at each radial position defines a set having a profile with the intermediate and smaller cutting elements located entirely within the larger cutting element. The profiles of the larger cutting elements of adjacent sets overlap each other without substantial overlapping of the profiles of any of the other cutting elements.

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First Claim