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Cash Dividends (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 30, 2010
Cash dividends paid, per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.15	$ 0.15
Cash dividends paid	$ 7,777	$ 7,772	$ 7,708	$ 7,704	$ 7,706	$ 7,677	$ 23,257	$ 23,087

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- Definition

Dividend Payment Date Day Month And Year

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- Definition

Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]

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Namespace Prefix:	pten
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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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- 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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