Real-time data from the ongoing operation (1) is continuously interpreted, recognizing important events such as tight spots or hard stringers (2). This, along with static data, such as the formation, mud and bottom-hole assembly, forms a situational description (3). Using this description, the case base is searched, and past cases with a similar situational description are retrieved (4).

The most relevant of these cases are presented to the drilling engineer, and the experience and advice from these situations assist him or her in dealing with the current situation (5). When the current situation is resolved, the drilling engineer may choose to record the experience
as a new case (6).

DrillEdge automatically creates the situational description of the new case, whereas the advice, in the form of lessons learned, best practice, and experiences relevant for similar situations in the future, are recorded by the engineer. The new case is then stored in the case base and may be retrieved when relevant in the future.