Drill bit with continuously sharp edge cutting elements

1. A method of drilling a subterranean earth formation, the method comprising the steps of:

rotating a drill bit having a plurality of blades, each blade having a forward facing face, with respect to a direction of rotation of the bit, with at least first and second rows of cutting elements disposed within individual pockets at least partially recessed into the face and having an abrasion resistance, wherein the plurality of blades are formed of a blade material having an abrasion resistance that is less than the abrasion resistance of the cutting elements;

abrading the blades beyond the first row of cutting elements, thereby exposing the second row of cutting elements to the earth formation, wherein the cutting elements in the first and second rows are uniform, such that the cutting elements in the first and second rows are polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements;

wherein the blade material erodes when it comes into frictional contact with the earth formation being drilled after the first row of cutting elements has been abraded;

wherein none of the cutting elements of the second row contacts the formation until one of the cutting elements of the first row fails, and

wherein the first row of cutting elements forms a first curved cutting profile, the second row of cutting elements forms a second curved cutting profile, the second profile is substantially identical to the first profile, and the second profile is offset from the first profile.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each pocket provides lateral support for one of the cutting elements.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each cutting element extends from within the blade, through the face, and into a slot between the blades of the drill bit.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second row of cutting elements is offset inwardly from the first row.

5. A drill bit, the drill bit comprising:

a bit body;

a plurality of blades spaced around the bit body, each blade having a curved outer edge and a forward face, with respect to a direction of rotation of the bit, each blade further having a cone section, a nose section, a shoulder section, and a gage section;

a first row of cutter pockets at least partially recessed into the forward face along the outer edge of each blade;

a second row of cutter pockets at least partially recessed into the forward face of each blade offset vertically from the first row;

a plurality of cutting elements, with each cutting element secured at least partially within a different one of the cutter pockets, such that the cutting elements in the first row of cutter pockets and the second row of cutter pockets are polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements;

wherein none of the cutting elements of the second row directly contacts the formation until at least one of the cutting elements of the first row fails, such that after failure of the cutting element of the first row and engagement of the cutting element of the second row, the bit retains useful performance using cutting elements of the first row and cutting elements of the second row simultaneously, and

wherein the first row of cutter pockets forms a first curved cutting profile, the second row of cutter pockets forms a second curved cutting profile, the second profile is substantially identical to the first profile, and the second profile is offset vertically from the first profile.

6. The drill bit as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each pocket provides lateral support for one of the cutting elements.

7. The drill bit as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each cutting element extends from within the blade, through the face, and into a slot between the blades of the drill bit.

8. The drill bit as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the cutting elements in the first row are of a different type than the cutting elements in the second row.

9. The drill bit as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the first row of cutting elements is offset outwardly from the second row.

10. The drill bit as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the face of each blade is substantially flat.

11. The drill bit of claim 5 , wherein the cutting elements of the second row are distributed across the nose, shoulder, and gage sections of each blade.

12. The drill bit of claim 11 , wherein there are a higher number of cutting elements of the second row proximate to the region between the shoulder section and the gage section of the forward face of each blade than in the nose and cone sections of the forward face of each blade.

13. A drill bit for drilling a well into an earth formation, the drill bit comprising:

a bit body;

a plurality of blades spaced around the bit body, each blade having a curved outer edge and a forward face with respect to a direction of rotation of the bit, each blade further having a cone section, a nose section, a shoulder section, and a gage section;

a first row of cutting elements at least partially recessed into the forward face along the outer edge of each blade;

a second row of cutting elements at least partially recessed into the forward face of each blade offset vertically from the outer edge and the first row;

wherein the cutting elements are polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements across both rows, and wherein none of the cutting elements of the second row directly contacts the formation until at least one of the cutting elements of the first row fails, such that after failure of the cutting element of the first row and engagement of the cutting element of the second row the bit retains useful performance while using a portion of the first row and a portion of the second row,

wherein the first row of cutting elements forms a first curved cutting profile, the second row of cutting elements forms a second curved cutting profile, the second profile is substantially identical to the first profile, and the second profile is offset vertically from the first profile, and

wherein the curved outer edge is substantially perpendicular to the forward face and at least one of the cutting elements of the first row of is aligned substantially parallel to at least one of the cutting elements of the second row.

14. The drill bit as set forth in claim 13 , wherein each cutting element extends from within the blade, through the face, and into a slot between the blades of the drill bit.

15. The drill bit as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the second row of cutting elements is offset inwardly from the first row.

16. The drill bit as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the face of each blade is substantially flat.

17. The drill bit of claim 13 , wherein the cutting elements of the second row are distributed across the nose, shoulder, and gage sections of each blade, such that there are a higher number of cutting elements of the second row proximate to the region between the shoulder section and the gage section of the forward face of each blade than in the nose and cone sections of the forward face of each blade.