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Business Segments - Additional Information (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2012 Segment
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of reportable business segments	3

X

- Definition

Number of Reportable Business Segments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_NumberOfReportableBusinessSegments
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	pten_SegmentReportingDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration