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Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Performance Unit Awards 2012 |
Schedule of Share based Compensation Arrangements by Share based Payment Award, Performance Options [Line Items] |
Target number of shares | 192,000
Performance Unit Awards 2011 |
Schedule of Share based Compensation Arrangements by Share based Payment Award, Performance Options [Line Items] |
Target number of shares | 144,375
Performance Unit Awards 2010 |
Schedule of Share based Compensation Arrangements by Share based Payment Award, Performance Options [Line Items] |
Target number of shares | 178,750

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- Definition Performance Award, Base Number of Shares + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | pten_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | pten_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceOptionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | pten_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration