Side cutting gage pad improving stabilization and borehole integrity

Abstract

A drill bit including improved gage pads is particularly adapted for side cutting a borehole wall. In a preferred embodiment, the drill bit gage pads alternate between an active gage pad with a cutting surface portion and a non-active gage pad with a wear-resistant surface. Gage pad cutting elements placed on a first active gage pad cooperate with gage pad cutting elements placed on other active gage pads. What results is a contiguous series of overlapping cutting elements suitable to cut the borehole wall. Non-active gage pads are preferably placed between the active cutting gage pads. These non-active gage pads have a wear-resistant surface (such as steel or diamond insert) that extends to the gage diameter. These non-active gage pads help to maintain borehole size and prevent undue torque being placed on the drill bit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.