Miner & Tochka
Tochka
I heard there's a new AI‑driven drilling system that could slash our downtime by half—could we talk numbers?
Miner
Sure, let’s cut the fluff. How many hours a month do we actually lose to downtime right now? And what’s the price tag for this AI rig? If the math adds up, we’ll consider it. If not, it’s another fancy gadget to put in the bin.
Tochka
About 200 hours a month, roughly 5‑6 % of our peak capacity. The AI rig runs on a $2.3 million capex plus $300 k a year in maintenance. If that math fits the ROI, we move forward—otherwise it’s a toy.
Miner
Let’s crunch the numbers. 200 hours a month saved—so 2,400 hours a year. We need the revenue per hour to see if a $2.3 million upfront and $300 k a year maintenance pays off in, say, 2–3 years. If each hour nets us $15 k, that’s $36 million a year saved, and we’re good. If it’s $5 k an hour, that’s only $12 million, and the payback stretches past the budget. Drop the per‑hour revenue and the capex, and we’ll see if the ROI fits the plan. Otherwise, keep the old rig and save the cash for a new shovel.