This paper reports on metal sealed rolling cone bits, which have cut drilling cost by increasing the footage drilled per bit and by increasing the penetration rate in several wells in South America. The metal seals double the bearing life compared to conventional elastomer sealed bits, thereby allowing the bit to stay on bottom longer. In Colombia, and operator required that only one bit be used to drill an entire section of hard, abrasive sandstone. In Venezuela, metal sealed bits were used to lower drilling costs in both