1980
LA “Audie” Smith founded LA Smith Drilling Company in 1980 in Grand Junction, Colorado to provide exploration drilling services for local Western Slope mines and civil works. Audie Smith grew to become one of the most prominent and well respected drillers in the Western US.
Early Drilling
1997
After Audie’s retirement, Audie’s son Darryl continued the family tradition by founding DA Smith Drilling in 1997. DA Smith Drilling developed a reputation as an expert, reliable, and cost-competitive core drilling company recognized throughout the Western US mining industry.
Darryl Smith
2010
Agapito Associates, Inc. (later to become part of DA Smith Drilling Company in 2020) surpasses 1,000 overcoring stress measurements in mines and dams across North America.
AAI Stress Measurements
2018
Agapito Associates, Inc. (later to become part of DA Smith Drilling Company in 2020) expands from underground core drilling into surface geotechnical drilling with the purchase of its first CME-55 drill rig.
AAI CME-55
2019
After 22 years of operation, Darryl Smith prepares to retire and sell DA Smith Drilling, a thriving regional, surface geotechnical drilling company.
DA Smith Drilling
2020
In 2020, Leo J. Gilbride, P.E., P.Eng. and Andrew Shaffer, P.E. acquired DA Smith Drilling and changed the name to DA Smith Drilling Company. Prior to April 2020, Messrs. Gilbride and Shaffer managed and operated the Field Services Division of Agapito Associates, Inc., a prominent mining engineering consulting firm headquartered in Grand Junction, Colorado. Agapito Associates' Field Services Division was a prominent force in the mining industry focused on underground core drilling, in situ stress measurements, and rock mechanics instrumentation and analysis.
DA Smith Sign
2020
DA Smith Drilling Company acquired Agapito Associates, Inc.'s Field Services Division in 2020. Agapito Associates, a seasoned consultancy in the mining and civil arenas, with its Field Services Division delivered more than 40 years of underground drilling, in situ stress measurement, and geomechanical instrumentation experience. In addition to acquiring Agapito Associates’ specialty equipment, Agapito Associates' key drillers, technicians, and mechanics joined DA Smith, thus preserving the institutional capabilities of the former Field Services Division. The merger significantly expanded DA Smith’s qualifications by establishing underground drilling within the company’s already mature surface geotechnical drilling business.
Agapito Associates, Inc. Field Services Division
2021
DA Smith acquired its most powerful underground core drill, a Boart Longyear LM90, in late 2021. The acquisition increased DA Smith's underground coring capability, as well as productivity for long and large-diameter holes. The drill's automatic rod handler and laser isolation system proved key upgrades to operational safety, satisfying some the highest safety standards in modern practice.
LM90 Core Drill
2022
DA Smith acquired new personnel, drills, and support equipment to keep up with strong demand and a broadening diversity of projects. In October, DA Smith expanded into a neighboring building adding an additional 3,800 square feet of shop space and 1.5 acres of yard space.
DA Smith Buildings Aerial View
2023
DA Smith acquired its largest surface rig, a VersaDrill KmN1.4sm diamond core drill. The acquisition increased DA Smith's surface exploration drilling capability in terms of depth, core diameter, productivity, and safety.
VersaDrill KmN1.4sm