Serving Salmon & Lemhi County, Idaho
Drilling Services in Salmon, Idaho
From new wells for homes in the Lemhi Valley to exploration programs in the mountains around Salmon, O’Keefe Drilling brings experienced crews, a versatile rig fleet, and in-house machine shop support to projects across Lemhi County. We’ve been drilling since 1959, we’re licensed to drill wells in Idaho, and we file the Idaho drilling permit for you.
Share your site location, access conditions, and depth targets for a scoped proposal.
The reality of drilling in Lemhi County
Remote Sites, Mixed Ground, and Idaho Rules
Lemhi County is big country with few services close by. Planning for that before the rig leaves Butte is what keeps a Salmon-area project on schedule.
Remote Access
Much of the work around Salmon sits on national forest land, reached by forest roads and narrow canyon routes. Our crews are experienced in remote logistics and plan access, fuel, and water before mobilizing.
Mixed Ground
The Lemhi and Salmon River valleys sit on alluvial sand, gravel, and cobbles, while the surrounding ranges are hard rock. We match the rig and method to the formation, from dual rotary through cobbles to reverse circulation in rock.
Distance From Suppliers
When a tool breaks or ground conditions change, the nearest parts counter can be hours away. Our in-house machine shop builds and modifies tooling quickly, so a field problem doesn't stop the job for days.
Idaho Requirements
Idaho requires a drilling permit from the Idaho Department of Water Resources before a well is built, and every well must be constructed by an Idaho-licensed driller. O'Keefe holds an Idaho license, and we file the drilling permit for you so paperwork doesn't hold up the schedule.
Our Services in Lemhi County
Water Wells and Exploration Drilling Around Salmon
Every project starts with a review of your site, scope, and access so we send the right equipment the first time.
Water Well Drilling
We drill domestic water wells for homes and properties around Salmon and across Lemhi County. The valley floor is sand, gravel, and cobbles, so we match the rig to the ground and use dual rotary drilling to case the hole as we go. Before the rig leaves Butte, we file the Idaho drilling permit for you.
Mineral Exploration Drilling
Lemhi County takes in the Idaho Cobalt Belt and long-worked gold country, and exploration programs here run on remote sites with tight seasons. Our five reverse circulation rigs come in truck and buggy configurations, and the buggy rigs work off-road sites across Lemhi County. Dual-wall RC systems and modern sample splitters protect sample quality, and we also run gyroscopic and magnetic borehole surveys and targeted spot coring. Ed O'Keefe helped advance reverse circulation drilling in the field, and that experience still shapes how we run RC programs today.
The O'Keefe Drilling Difference
A Butte Crew That Arrives Ready for Lemhi County
Salmon is about 3 to 4 hours from our Butte yard, over the Continental Divide. That distance shapes how we plan. Equipment is checked and tooled before it leaves, and the crew knows the access, the ground, and the permit status before the first hole.
- Drilling since 1959. Founded by Ed O'Keefe and his brother Emmett, with Lue O'Keefe there from the start.
- Fifteen drilling rigs. A fleet that size lets us send the right rig for the job, from dual rotary for wells to reverse circulation for exploration.
- An in-house machine shop. Computer-controlled lathes and full fabrication mean we build and repair tooling ourselves, with fewer outside dependencies.
- Licensed in Idaho. O'Keefe is licensed to drill various types of wells in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.
- Experience in remote country. Our crews work remote sites across Montana and the Western States, where logistics matter as much as drilling.
No obligation. Just a conversation about your site and goals.
Who We Work With
Trusted by Landowners and Exploration Teams Across Lemhi County
Homeowners & Landowners
A new well can feel unfamiliar and high-stakes. We explain your options, handle the Idaho permit, and guide the process from start to finish.
Mining & Exploration Companies
From early target testing to grade control, we give geologists and project managers dependable samples and steady drilling performance on remote sites.
Planning Your Project
What to Know Before Drilling a Well in Idaho
Idaho’s well rules are set by the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), and they differ from Montana’s. A little homework before you request a bid helps us scope the job accurately.
- A drilling permit comes first. IDWR requires a drilling permit before any well is constructed, and the well must be built by a driller licensed in Idaho. We file the permit for you.
- Domestic wells are the simplest. A domestic well doesn't need any other IDWR approval before the drilling permit, so once we've filed it, we can schedule the rig.
- Look up nearby wells. IDWR's well map shows the depth, geology, depth to water, and flow rate for wells already drilled near your site. It's a useful preview of what we're likely to find.
Not sure what your project needs? Send us the location and we’ll talk through the requirements with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you take drilling projects in Salmon, Idaho?
Yes. In Salmon and across Lemhi County, we drill domestic water wells and run mineral exploration programs. Send us the site location and scope, and we’ll confirm the right equipment and schedule.
Can you drill a domestic well for my home near Salmon?
Yes. Domestic wells are the main well work we do in the Salmon area. We file the Idaho drilling permit, drill and case the well, and walk you through each step.
Are you licensed to drill wells in Idaho?
Yes. O’Keefe Drilling is licensed to drill various types of wells in Idaho, as well as Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.
Who handles the Idaho drilling permit?
We do. Idaho requires an IDWR drilling permit before a well is built, and we file it before we mobilize. For a domestic well, that permit is the only IDWR approval needed.
How far ahead should we book a project near Salmon?
The earlier the better. Bringing us in during planning lets us review access, ground conditions, and permits, then line up the right rig and tooling before the crew leaves Butte.
Can you drill on remote or steep sites?
es. Our crews are experienced in remote logistics, and our buggy-mounted RC rigs work off-road exploration sites across Lemhi County. Tell us about the roads and terrain when you request a bid.
O'Keefe Drilling
Related Services
Mineral Exploration Drilling
Water Well Drilling
Request a quote
Planning a Project Near Salmon?
Whether it’s a new well for your home or an exploration program in the hills, we’re ready to review your scope and give you a clear path forward.
Share the site location, access conditions, depth targets, and timeline to start the proposal process.