# Build a cost engineering RAG with Google Drive and OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Drive and Pinecone. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-cost-engineering-rag-with-google-drive-and-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [AI assistants](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=AI+assistants#library)

# Build a cost engineering RAG with Google Drive and OpenAI

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Drive and Pinecone. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 22 steps: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fbuild-a-cost-engineering-rag-with-google-drive-and-openai)

**22 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 3 Model 7 Logic 8 Service 4

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Schedule Document Ingestion** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Split Documents into Chunks** Text Splitter Recursive Character Text Splitter *Model*
- 3 **Generate Embeddings** Embeddings Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **Receive User Query** Chat trigger *Starts it*
- 5 **Generate Answer** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 6 **Provide Knowledge Base Settings** Execute Workflow trigger *Starts it*
- 7 **Get Ingestion Settings** Execute Workflow *Logic*
- 8 **Convert Text to Documents** Document Default Data Loader *Model*
- 9 **Store Document Embeddings** Vector Store Pinecone *Model*
- 10 **Retrieve Relevant Documents** Vector Store Pinecone *Model*
- 11 **Get Retrieval Settings** Execute Workflow *Logic*
- 12 **Answer Query Using Knowledge Base** Agent *Model*
- 13 **Define Knowledge Base Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 14 **Load Ingestion Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 15 **Move Document to Processed Folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 16 **Load Retrieval Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 17 **Response Ready** No Op *Logic*
- 18 **Configuration Ready** No Op *Logic*
- 19 **List Pending Documents** Google Drive *Service*
- 20 **Ingestion Complete** No Op *Logic*
- 21 **Download Source Document** Google Drive *Service*
- 22 **Extract PDF Content** Extract From File *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone opening a chat with it
- **Steps:** 22
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Google Drive, Pinecone
- **Model:** OpenAI
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Drive and Pinecone accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone opening a chat with it.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 22 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 22 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fbuild-a-cost-engineering-rag-with-google-drive-and-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[Pinecone](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Pinecone#library)

## Workflows like it

Also ai assistants, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Draft dental denial appeal packets from Gmail EOBs with OpenAI** 22 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/draft-dental-denial-appeal-packets-from-gmail-eobs-with-open)
- [**Build a multi-agent system with Qdrant and Gmail** 23 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-multi-agent-system-with-qdrant-and-gmail)
- [**Build a product catalog chatbot with Mistral and Google Drive** 23 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Supabase vectors](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-product-catalog-chatbot-with-mistral-and-google-driv)
- [**Generate professional product images | AI marketing campaign** 23 steps · calls a model · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-professional-product-images-ai-marketing-campaign)
- [**Retrieve and answer Gmail email queries with Llama and Qdrant** 21 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/retrieve-and-answer-gmail-email-queries-with-llama-and-qdran)
- [**Turn HR news into policy update tasks and a weekly Gmail digest** 21 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/turn-hr-news-into-policy-update-tasks-and-a-weekly-gmail-dig)