A method for a wellbore operation with a wellbore system, the method, in at least certain aspects, including acquiring with sensor systems data corresponding to a plurality of parameters, the data indicative of values for each parameter, each parameter associated with part of the wellbore system, and, based on said data, calculating a value for each of a plurality of mechanical specific energies each related to a mechanical specific energy for a part of the wellbore system; and, in some aspects, monitoring in real time the value of each of the mechanical specific energies; and, in certain aspects, using such determined values to alter, change, improve, or optimize operations.