Mike Iba, founder of Iba Drilling Company, Inc., got his start in the drilling business when he began helping on a water well rig in the 1970s at the age of 18. After several years, he was offered to buy the rig from his employer and in February of 1977 incorporated Iba Drilling in the state of Montana. 

Throughout the 1980s, Iba Drilling grew to become a major player in the seismic industry with a handful of rigs operated by talented drillers. They drilled thousands of boreholes throughout Montana and North Dakota for a variety of exploration companies searching for oil-bearing formations. 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Iba Drilling expanded into mineral exploration with a custom built reverse circulation rig that worked on a mine in South Dakota for over a decade. During that time, Iba Drilling invested heavily into heli-portable equipment which was able to be placed, by helicopter, in incredibly remote locations. 

Ground source heat pump systems were becoming popular in the 1990s and Iba Drilling was able to adapt its equipment to being installing them. This area of work became one of our most popular services and continues to be to this day.

Iba Drilling Co., Inc. is based in Glendive, Montana with its shop located just north of town. It was built in 1978 and has been the base of operations that have extended to the surrounding states and beyond. In 2011, Chris Iba, Mike’s youngest son, began working full time for Iba Drilling after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Montana Tech in Butte, Montana. He has since become president of Iba Drilling and continues operations with values learned from his father including craftsmanship, cleanliness, customer service, and attention to detail.