Denny Robblee and Premier Drilling Co. Featured in Elko Daily Free Press for Excellence in Mineral Exploration and Well Drilling

Premier Drilling Co. has built a reputation for safe, reliable mineral exploration drilling and well drilling throughout the western United States. That commitment to quality recently earned recognition in the Elko Daily Free Press, which featured founder Denny Robblee and the company on the front-page in a story titled, “A Premier Product for the Industry.”

Denny started at the very bottom (or top, if you ask James) of the drilling industry in 1985. He spent more than two decades with Boart Longyear before launching Premier Drilling in 2014 with just a couple of rotary rigs and a clear vision: to deliver safe, high-quality work with genuine, personalized service. Many members of that original crew, including Brandon Pelcher, are still with us today — a reflection of the strong, people-first culture Denny has built.

The story emphasizes that Premier is a people-based company that refuses to “outrun our talent.” With roughly 75 employees and a fleet of 15 core and reverse-circulation rigs (typically running 7–8 at a time), we stay focused on safe, high-quality drilling services rather than rapid expansion, providing dependable mineral exploration drilling and water well drilling throughout the western United States. We’re licensed across Nevada, South Dakota, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, and California, and handle mineral exploration (gold, silver, copper, lithium) as well as municipal and agriculture water-well projects — with about two-thirds of our work right here in Nevada.

One detail that stood out in the article is how Premier supports our crews on remote sites. Instead of relying on outside vendors, our team designed and built our own housing units — sleepers, kitchens, and bath facilities — complete with air conditioning, heating, refrigerators, and Starlink connectivity so drillers can stay in touch with family even when they’re hours from the nearest town. It’s one more way we try to make life on the road a little easier while maintaining the high standards our clients expect.

Safety has always been non-negotiable. The Free Press noted our perfect record: no lost-time accidents since we started in 2014 and no MSHA citations. Denny’s hands-on approach and willingness to try new ideas have helped create a strong safety culture that our entire team, including Safety Manager Jeff Goff, works hard to protect every day.

Like many in our industry, we navigate challenges — from diesel costs for 24/7 operations to the permitting realities on public land — but we do it with the same steady focus Denny has carried since day one.

As one of our team members put it in the article:

We’re grateful to the Elko Daily Free Press and reporter Adreilla Harding for telling part of our story, and we’re even more grateful to the hardworking crews who make the Premier name mean something every shift.  To read the complete article, visit Premier Drilling travels to sites across the western U.S.

Premier Drilling provides reverse circulation drilling, core drilling, mineral exploration drilling, and water well drilling services to mining, municipal, agricultural, and industrial clients throughout Nevada, the western United States, and South Dakota.

If you’re planning a mineral exploration drilling program, reverse circulation drilling project, core drilling project, or municipal or agricultural water well, Premier Drilling has the experienced personnel, modern equipment, and safety-focused culture to help make your project successful.

Contact our team anytime — we’re ready when you are.