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Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 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

X

- 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