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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-10-041986.txt : 20100430
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-10-041986.hdr.sgml : 20100430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100430165201
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-10-041986
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		3
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100430
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100430
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20100430

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTERSON UTI ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000889900
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				752504748
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-166434
		FILM NUMBER:		10788318

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4510 LAMESA HWY
		STREET 2:		P O DRAWER 1416
		CITY:			SNYDER
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79549
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9155731104

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O DRAWER 1416
		CITY:			SNYDER
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79550

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PATTERSON ENERGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940228
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d72661sv8.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM S-8
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>sv8</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2010.
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-____
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt; margin-top: 3pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><I>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</I></DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR></TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>75-2504748</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(State or other jurisdiction of</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(I.R.S. Employer</I></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>incorporation or organization)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>Identification No.)</I></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>450 Gears Road, Suite&nbsp;500</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Houston, Texas</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>77067</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Zip Code)</I></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan</B><BR>
<I>(Full title of the plan)</I></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Seth D. Wexler<BR>
General Counsel and Secretary<BR>
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.<BR>
450 Gears Road, Suite&nbsp;500<BR>
Houston, Texas 77067</B><BR>
<I>(Name and address of agent for service)</I></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(281)&nbsp;765-7100</B><BR>
<I>(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</I></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><I>With Copy to:</I><BR>
<B>Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P.<BR>
Fulbright Tower<BR>
1301 McKinney, Suite&nbsp;5100<BR>
Houston, Texas 77010-3095<BR>
(713)&nbsp;651-5151<BR>
Attention: Michael W. Conlon</B></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">
<TABLE width="100%" style="FONT-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">
<TR><TD>Large accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></TD>
<TD align="center">Accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center"><br>Non-accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><BR>(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD align="right">Smaller reporting company&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Calculation of Registration Fee</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR style="font-size: 1pt" valign="BOTTOM">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="54%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of each class of</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>offering price per</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>aggregate offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>securities to be registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registered(1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>share(2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>price(2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registration fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, $0.01
par value per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">5,000,000 shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="RIGHT" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">15.47</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="RIGHT" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">77,350,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="RIGHT" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">5,515.06</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;Securities Act&#148;), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of
interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein. This
registration statement also covers an indeterminable number of shares of Common Stock issuable
as a result of the anti-dilution provisions of the employee benefit plan described herein.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c)
and (h)&nbsp;under the Securities Act and based upon the average of the high and low sales price of
a share of Common Stock of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market
on April&nbsp;29, 2010.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>













<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">










<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">A Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.&nbsp;333-126016) (the &#147;First Registration Statement&#148;) was
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on June&nbsp;21, 2005 covering the
registration of 6,250,000 shares of Common Stock under the Paterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, as amended (the &#147;Plan&#148;). A Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
333-152705) (together with the &#147;First Registration Statement&#148;, the &#147;Prior Registration Statements&#148;)
was filed with the Commission on August&nbsp;1, 2008 covering the registration of an additional
4,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8,
this Registration Statement is being filed to register an additional 5,000,000 shares authorized
under the Plan, as amended. The contents of each of the Prior Registration Statements are
incorporated herein by reference.
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B></DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="89%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (filed August
9, 2004 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on
Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2004 and
incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
(filed August&nbsp;9, 2004 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed August&nbsp;6, 2007 as
Exhibit&nbsp;3.3 to the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2007 and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Rights Agreement dated January&nbsp;2, 1997, between Patterson
Energy, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer &#038; Trust Company
(filed January&nbsp;14, 1997 as Exhibit&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A and incorporated herein by
reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of October&nbsp;23, 2001
(filed October&nbsp;31, 2001 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.4 to the Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended
September&nbsp;30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.6
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan,
including Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Award
Agreement, Form of Executive Officer Stock Option Agreement,
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement
and Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (filed
June&nbsp;21, 2005 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report
on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.7
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">First Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (filed June&nbsp;6, 2008 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the
Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein
by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.8
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed June&nbsp;6, 2008 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.2 to
the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.9
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Third Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (filed April&nbsp;27, 2010 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the
Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein
by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.10
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Fourth Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed April&nbsp;27, 2010 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.2
to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P. (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included in signature page II-2).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas on April&nbsp;30, 2010.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Douglas J. Wall
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Douglas J. Wall&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">President and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the persons whose signatures appear below constitute and
appoint John E. Vollmer III, Douglas J. Wall and Seth D. Wexler, and each of them, as true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Form S-8 Registration
Statement pertaining to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended,
and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Form S-8 Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Signature</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Title</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Date</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Mark S. Siegel
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Chairman of the Board and Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Mark S. Siegel</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Douglas J. Wall
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">President and Chief Executive Officer
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"> April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Douglas J. Wall<BR>
<I>(Principal Executive Officer)</I></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ John E. Vollmer III
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Senior Vice President&#151;Corporate
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">John E. Vollmer III<BR>
<I>(Principal Financial Officer)</I>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Development, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Gregory W. Pipkin
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Chief Accounting Officer and
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Gregory W. Pipkin<BR>
<I>(Principal Accounting Officer)</I></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Assistant Secretary</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Kenneth N. Berns
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Senior Vice President and Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"> April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Kenneth N. Berns</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Charles O. Buckner
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Charles O. Buckner</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Cloyce A. Talbott
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Cloyce A. Talbott</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Signature</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Title</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Date</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->

<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Curtis W. Huff
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Curtis W. Huff</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Terry H. Hunt
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Terry H. Hunt</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Kenneth R. Peak
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;28, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Kenneth R. Peak</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="89%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (filed August
9, 2004 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on
Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2004 and
incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
(filed August&nbsp;9, 2004 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed August&nbsp;6, 2007 as
Exhibit&nbsp;3.3 to the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2007 and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Rights Agreement dated January&nbsp;2, 1997, between Patterson
Energy, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer &#038; Trust Company
(filed January&nbsp;14, 1997 as Exhibit&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A and incorporated herein by
reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of October&nbsp;23, 2001
(filed October&nbsp;31, 2001 as Exhibit&nbsp;3.4 to the Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended
September&nbsp;30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.6
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan,
including Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Award
Agreement, Form of Executive Officer Stock Option Agreement,
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement
and Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (filed
June&nbsp;21, 2005 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report
on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.7
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">First Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (filed June&nbsp;6, 2008 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the
Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein
by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.8
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed June&nbsp;6, 2008 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.2 to
the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.9
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Third Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (filed April&nbsp;27, 2010 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the
Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated herein
by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.10
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Fourth Amendment to the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed April&nbsp;27, 2010 as Exhibit&nbsp;10.2
to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated
herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P. (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&#151;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included in signature page II-2).</TD>
</TR>
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</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>d72661exv5w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-5.1
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>exv5w1</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;5.1</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Fulbright &#038; Jaworski l.l.p.</B><BR>
A Registered Limited Liability Partnership<BR>
Fulbright Tower<BR>
1301 McKinney, Suite&nbsp;5100<BR>
Houston, Texas 77010-3095<BR>
www.fulbright.com
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%"></TD>
    <TD width="5%"></TD>
    <TD width="47%"></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B>telephone:</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>(713)&nbsp;651-5151</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top"><B>facsimile:</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>(713)&nbsp;651-5246</B></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">April&nbsp;30, 2010
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.<BR>
450 Gears Road, Suite&nbsp;500<BR>
Houston, Texas 77067

</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Ladies and Gentlemen:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have acted as counsel to Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
&#147;Company&#148;), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;Act&#148;), on Form S-8 (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) of an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares (the
&#147;Shares&#148;) of the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $.01 per share (&#147;Common Stock&#148;), to be offered
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the &#147;2005 Plan&#148;). The Shares may consist of (i)&nbsp;the
Company&#146;s authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (the &#147;Original Issuance Shares&#148;), (ii)
previously issued shares of the Company&#146;s Common Stock reacquired and held by the Company or (iii)
shares of the Company&#146;s Common Stock purchased on the open market.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection therewith, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of the Company&#146;s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, the 2005 Plan, the records of relevant
corporate proceedings with respect to the offering of the Shares and such other documents and
instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the expression of the opinions contained
herein. We have also examined the Company&#146;s Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) with respect to the Shares.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have assumed the authenticity and completeness of all records, certificates and other
instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all records,
certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of
the originals of those records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies and
the correctness of all statements of fact contained in all records, certificates and other
instruments that we have examined.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">Austin &#149; Beijing &#149; Dallas &#149; Denver &#149; Dubai &#149; Hong Kong &#149; Houston &#149; London &#149; Los Angeles &#149; Minneapolis<BR>
Munich &#149; New York &#149; Riyadh &#149; San Antonio &#149; St. Louis &#149; Washington DC
</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.<BR>
April&nbsp;30, 2010<BR>
Page 2

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Based on the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed
relevant, we are of the opinion that the Original Issuance Shares have been duly and validly
authorized for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the 2005 Plan, will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The opinions expressed herein relate solely to, are based solely upon and are limited
exclusively to the federal laws of the United States of America and the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported
decisions concerning such laws, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other
jurisdiction.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section&nbsp;7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-left: 50%">Very truly yours,

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-left: 50%">/s/ Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P.

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 50%">Fulbright &#038; Jaworski L.L.P.

</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>d72661exv23w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23.1
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>exv23w1</TITLE>
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;23.1</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of
our report dated February&nbsp;19, 2010 relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial
statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which
appears in Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31,
2009.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">
Houston, Texas<BR>
April&nbsp;30, 2010

</DIV>


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