System and method for determining productivity of a drilling project

Abstract

Drilling machine data is received during execution a plurality of processes by a drilling machine associated with each of a plurality of phases of a drilling project. Processing includes automatically detecting a start state and an end state of each of the phases, generating time stamp data in response to detecting at least the start state of each phase, receiving an operator input confirming the start state of a particular phase of the plurality of phases, and electronically identifying the particular phase based on the operator input. Processing also includes storing the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the particular and preceding phases, and generating an output comprising the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the phases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use by a drilling machine, comprising:
 receiving drilling machine data during execution a plurality of processes by the drilling machine associated with each of a plurality of phases of a drilling project;   automatically detecting a start state and an end state of each of the phases;   generating time stamp data in response to detecting at least the start state of each phase;   receiving an operator input confirming the start state of a particular phase of the plurality of phases;   electronically identifying the particular phase and one or more phases preceding the particular phase based on the operator input;   storing the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the particular and preceding phases; and   generating an output comprising the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the phases.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the operator input comprises displaying a prompt for the operator input on a display coupled to the drilling machine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deriving attributes for each of the phases using one or both of the time stamp data and the machine data for each phase; and   storing the derived attributes for each of the phases;   wherein the generated output further comprises the derived attributes for each of the phases.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time stamp data for each phase comprises:
 a start time stamp and an end time stamp; or   a start time stamp and an end time stamp defined by a start time stamp of a successive phase; or   an end time stamp and a start time stamp defined by an end time stamp of the preceding phase.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the machine data and the time stamp data for each phase are stored in a temporary memory cache after detecting the start state of each phase; and   the method further comprises transferring the machine data and the time stamp data from the temporary memory cache to archive memory in response to detecting the end state of each phase.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the archive memory is configured to define a project manifest organized by phase with each phase associated with its respective machine data and time stamp data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the machine data comprises at least some of maximum ground drive pressure, average ground drive pressure, maximum rotation pump pressure, average rotation pump pressure, maximum thrust pump pressure, and average thrust pump pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular phase comprises a stationary transport phase, a moving transport phase, a trailer transport phase, a set-up stationary phase, or a set-up moving phase. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular phase comprises a set-up phase and the phase preceding the set-up phase comprises a transport phase. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular phase comprises a boring phase and the phase preceding the boring phase comprises a set-up phase; or   the particular phase comprises a boring phase and the phase preceding the boring phase comprises a transport phase; or   the particular phase comprises a pullback or reaming phase and the phase preceding the pullback or reaming phase comprises a boring phase; or   the particular phase comprises a breakdown phase and the phase preceding the breakdown phase comprises a boring phase; or   the particular phase comprises a breakdown phase and the phase preceding the breakdown phase comprises a pullback or reaming phase.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular phase and the one or more preceding phases define sub-phases of the same drilling project phase; and   electronically identifying the particular phase comprises electronically identifying all sub-phases of the particular phase and the one or more preceding phases.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular phase and the one or more preceding phases define sub-phases of a boring phase, a pullback phase or a reaming phase; and   one or more of the sub-phases involves the addition or removal of a drill rod respectively to or from a drill string coupled to the drilling machine.   
     
     
         13 . A method for use with a drilling machine, comprising:
 receiving data about the drilling machine during a plurality of processes associated with each of a plurality of non-excavation phases of a drilling project;   automatically detecting a start state and an end state of each of the phases;   generating time stamp data in response to detecting at least the start state of each phase;   receiving an operator input confirming the start state of a particular phase of the plurality of phases;   electronically identifying the particular phase based on the operator input;   storing the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for the particular phase; and   generating an output comprising the identity, time duration, and machine data for the particular phase.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein electronically identifying the particular phase comprising electronically identifying the particular phase and one or more phases preceding the particular phase based on the operator input. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for use with a drilling machine, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a timer device;   a state detector; and   a user interface;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive drilling machine data during execution of each of a plurality of phases of a drilling project; 
 cooperate with the state detector to automatically detect a start state and an end state of each of the phases; 
 cooperate with the timer device to determine a time duration of each phase; 
 cooperate with the user interface to receive an operator input confirming the start state of a particular phase of the plurality of phases; 
 electronically identify the particular phase and one or more phases preceding the particular phase based on the operator input; 
 store the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the particular and preceding phases in the memory; and 
 generate an output comprising the identity, a time duration, and the machine data for each of the phases. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the user interface comprise a display and an input device; and   the processor is configured to cooperate with the user interface to display a prompt for the operator input on the display.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 derive attributes for each of the phases using one or both of the time stamp data and the machine data for each phase; and   store the derived attributes for each of the phases in the memory;   wherein the generated output further comprises the derived attributes for each of the phases.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the memory is configured to define a project manifest organized by phase with each phase associated with its respective machine data and time stamp data. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the particular phase and the one or more preceding phases define sub-phases of a boring phase, a pullback phase or a reaming phase; and   one or more of the sub-phases involves the addition or removal of a drill rod respectively to or from a drill string coupled to the drilling machine.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the phases define non-excavation phases of a drilling project.