Hybrid Drill Bit

An earth-boring bit comprising:

• a bit body having a central longitudinal axis that defines an axial center of the bit body and configured at its upper extent for connection into a drill string;
• at least one bit leg secured to the bit body;
• a rolling cutter mounted for rotation on the bit leg;
• at least one fixed blade extending downwardly from the bit body, the fixed blade having a radially outermost gage surface that extends outward to substantially the full gage diameter of the bit;
• a plurality of fixed cutting elements secured to the fixed blade, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of fixed cutting elements is located at or near the axial center of the bit body;
• a rolling cutter mounted for rotation on the bit leg;
• and
• at least one stabilizer pad disposed between the at least one bit leg and the at least one fixed blade, the stabilizer pad extending radially outward to substantially the gage surface.

An earth-boring bit comprising:

• a bit body configured at its upper extent for connection into a drillstring, the bit body having a central longitudinal axis;
• at least one fixed blade extending downwardly from the bit body, the fixed blade having a radially outermost gage surface, the gage surface of each fixed blade extending axially downward at an angle other than zero relative to the longitudinal axis of the bit body;
• a plurality of fixed cutting elements secured to each fixed blade, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of fixed cutting elements is located at or near the axial center of the bit body;
• at least one bit leg secured to the bit body;
• a rolling cutter mounted for rotation on the bit leg;
• and
• at least one rolling-cutter cutting element arranged on the rolling cutter,
• wherein the gage surface of the at least one fixed blade has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the gage surface of the at least one fixed blade acting as a stabilization pad, and
• wherein the at least one fixed blade operates as a stabilizer pad.

An earth-boring bit comprising:

• a bit body configured at its upper extent for connection into a drillstring, the bit body having a central longitudinal axis;
• at least one fixed blade extending downwardly from the bit body, the fixed blade having a radially outermost gage surface, the gage surface of each fixed blade extending axially downward and non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bit body;
• a plurality of fixed cutting elements secured to each fixed blade;
• at least one bit leg secured to the bit body;
• a rolling cutter mounted for rotation on the bit leg;
• and
• at least one rolling-cutter cutting element arranged on the rolling cutter, wherein the at least one fixed blade operates as a stabilizer pad.

An earth-boring drill bit comprising:

• a bit body configured at its upper extent for connection into a drillstring;
• at least one fixed blade extending downwardly from the bit body, the fixed blade having a radially outermost gage surface;
• a plurality of fixed cutting elements secured to each fixed blade;
• at least one bit leg secured to the bit body;
• a rolling cutter mounted for rotation on the bit leg, the bit leg having a radially outermost surface, the radially outermost surface of the bit leg extending toward and joining the radially outermost surface of the fixed blade;
• and
• at least one rolling-cutter cutting element arranged on the rolling cutter
• wherein the joined radially outermost surfaces of the fixed blade and bit leg together describe a segment of the circumference of the borehole that equals or exceeds 180 degrees.