XML 60 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11

Cash Dividends (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 30, 2010
Cash dividends paid, per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Cash dividends paid	$ 7,772	$ 7,708	$ 7,706	$ 7,677	$ 15,480	$ 15,383

X

- Definition

Dividend Payment Date Day Month And Year

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pten
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pten
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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X

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

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X

- Definition

Equity impact of common stock cash dividends declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

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Balance Type:	debit
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