Relevance. Effective development of the Russian oil and gas industry is impossible without the development and implementation of a new rock-crushing tool for drilling wells. The article reveals the very concept of a scientific «paradigm» as a view of problems, solutions, methods and theory in relation to the development of science in drilling oil and gas wells. The authors have outlined the ideas and paradigms on the technique and technology of constructing wells for oil and gas. The paper considers the issues of cutting rocks with diamond-carbide PDC cutters. Choosing an effective technology for cutting rocks with a modern rock-crushing tool is an urgent problem for the exploration industry. The mechanical drilling speed is the main economic indicator for drilling companies engaged in the construction of oil and gas wells. Using the innovative chisels developed by the authors, reinforced with PDC cutters, it is shown what modern rock cutting technology looks like. Considering the design of chisels with PDC cutters, it should be noted that their resource depends not only on the design data on geometry, but also on the effective technology of rock destruction of various categories in terms of drillability. The optimal parameters of the rock cutting technology contribute to an increase in the mechanical drilling speed. It is shown that the introduction of innovative developments in the practice of drilling operations will contribute to improving the efficiency of the construction of oil and gas wells. Aim. To consider the theory of cutting-chipping rocks with chisels reinforced with PDC cutters. The paper introduces the generalization of modern developments in the technology of rock destruction, and a description of innovative solutions for the technology of rock cutting. Results and conclusions. The paper considers the main classes of cutting modes – blocked, semi-blocked and free. Optimal cutting modes were determined depending on the categories of rock drillability. Taking into account experimental studies, the optimal angles of installation on the chisel of the PDC cutters were determined.