Bearing materials for tricone bit rolling elements

A method of increasing the wear resistance of a roller cone drill bit, the method comprising:

• adding a plurality of rolling elements to a bearing assembly within at least one cone of the roller cone drill bit;
• wherein each rolling element of the plurality of rolling elements has a surface hardness of HRC 59-63, a hardened depth that is 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm deep, and is derived from a low carbon bearing steel material;
• wherein the hardened depth is measured from the surface of each rolling element;
• and
• wherein the low carbon bearing steel material has, by weight percent, from 0.12% to 0.25% carbon;
• wherein the hardened depth comprises a carburized layer having a carbon content of at least 0.35% by weight at a depth of 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm from the surface of each rolling element.

A roller cone drill bit comprising:

• a plurality of rolling elements within a bearing assembly of a cone;
• wherein each rolling element of the plurality of rolling elements has a surface hardness of HRC 58-63, a core hardness of HRC 56-59, a hardened depth that is 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm deep, and is derived from a low carbon bearing steel material;
• wherein the hardened depth is measured from the surface of each rolling element;
• and
• wherein the low carbon bearing steel material has, by weight percent, from 0.40% to 0.55% carbon.