ABSTRACT A radical new concept in bit technology has been developed for use in drilling the deep water shales of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Delta where both milltooth and conventional PDC bits have performed poorly. This new tool utilizes the following technical elements: Large diameter positive rake PDC cutters as the primary cutting elementCurved PDC cutters to stretch the formation to its elastic limits for easy shearingCritical spacing between the cutters to take advantage of rock harmonics and fail the formation in tension. The applications qualification procedure for the use of this new technology is based upon standard electric logs.