Cutter profile helping in stability and steerability

Abstract

An improved drill bit comprises a bit body, a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body, a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile, and a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile. The first plurality of cutting elements may, or may not, be greater in number than the second plurality of cutting elements. The cutting elements of the first plurality may, or may not, be greater in size than the cutting elements of the second plurality. The second cutter profile may be offset inwardly or outwardly from the first cutter profile. The second cutter profile may run along a cone section, a nose section, and/or a shoulder section of the bit.

1 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein each profile is exclusive for at least a portion of each blade.   
   
   
       2 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of cutting elements are greater in number than the second plurality of cutting elements. 
   
   
       3 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting elements of the first plurality are greater in size than the cutting elements of the second plurality. 
   
   
       4 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset inwardly from the first cutter profile. 
   
   
       5 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset outwardly from the first cutter profile. 
   
   
       6 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile runs along a cone section. 
   
   
       7 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the first cutter profile runs along a gage section, a shoulder section, and a nose section, but not the cone section. 
   
   
       8 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile runs along a nose section. 
   
   
       9 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the first cutter profile runs along a gage section, a shoulder section, and a cone section, but not the nose section. 
   
   
       10 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements are fewer in number than the first plurality of cutting elements and define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein the first cutter profile runs along a gage section and a shoulder section, and wherein the second cutter profile exclusively runs along at least a portion of at least one of a nose section and a cone section.   
   
   
       11 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset inwardly from the first cutter profile. 
   
   
       12 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset outwardly from the first cutter profile. 
   
   
       13 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile by at least 0.15 inches. 
   
   
       14 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the first plurality of cutting elements. 
   
   
       15 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the second plurality of cutting elements. 
   
   
       16 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the cutting elements. 
   
   
       17 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile by at least 0.15 inches. 
   
   
       18 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the first plurality of cutting elements. 
   
   
       19 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the second plurality of cutting elements. 
   
   
       20 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the cutting elements. 
   
   
       21 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile by at least 0.15 inches.   
   
   
       22 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the first plurality of cutting elements.   
   
   
       23 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the second plurality of cutting elements.   
   
   
       24 . A drill bit, such as for drilling into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:
 a bit body;   a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body;   a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the first plurality of cutting elements define a first cutter profile; and   a second plurality of cutting elements disposed on the blades, such that the second plurality of cutting elements define a second cutter profile offset from the first cutter profile,   wherein the second cutter profile is offset from the first cutter profile between twenty-five and seventy-five percent of an average diameter of the cutting elements.