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Long Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 27, 2012
LegalMatter
Aug. 19, 2010
Oct. 05, 2010
LegalMatter
Dec. 31, 2010
Jun. 14, 2012
LegalMatter
Apr. 01, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Unfunded letters of credit, amount outstanding $ 39,800,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount                
Line of credit, available borrowing capacity 157,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity                
Debt issuance costs     7,581,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts            
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issuance costs 2,200,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 2,200,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 3,400,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts            
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin 2.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		                
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Scenario Forecast                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin                 2.75%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Base Rate                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin 1.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_BaseRateMember		                
Base Rate | Scenario Forecast                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin                 1.75%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity       700,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember		          
Debt maturity date       Sep. 27, 2017          
Aggregate amount by which the revolving credit facility can be increased       100,000,000pten_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember		          
Commitment fee payable to the lenders for the unused portion of the credit facility 0.50%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember		                
Credit agreement, financial covenant description The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 45%. The Credit Agreement generally defines the debt to capitalization ratio as the ratio of (a) total borrowed money indebtedness to (b) the sum of such indebtedness plus consolidated net worth, with consolidated net worth determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement generally defines the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.                
Number of compliance covenants       2pten_NumberOfCovenants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember		          
Credit Agreement | Minimum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter       300.00%pten_InterestCoverageRatio
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		          
Credit Agreement | Maximum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time       45.00%pten_ConsolidatedDebtAsPercentageOfCapitalization
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		          
Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin       2.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		          
Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin       3.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		          
Credit Agreement | Base Rate | Minimum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin       1.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_BaseRateMember		          
Credit Agreement | Base Rate | Maximum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Applicable margin       2.25%pten_ApplicableMarginRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_BaseRateMember		          
Term Loan Facility                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Line of credit, amount outstanding 82,500,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		                
Line of credit facility, interest rate 2.50%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		                
Term Loan Facility | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Current aggregate borrowing capacity       100,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		          
Line of credit facility, frequency of payment and payment terms The term loan facility provides for a loan of $100 million, which was drawn on December 24, 2012. The term loan facility is payable in quarterly principal installments, which commenced December 27, 2012. The installment amounts vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments, 5.00% of the original principal amount for the subsequent four quarterly installments and 13.75% of the original principal amount for the final four quarterly installments.                
Line of credit facility, frequency of payments       Quarterly          
Commencement date of principal payments       Dec. 27, 2012          
Term Loan Facility | First Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount       1.25%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupOneMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		          
Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Eight Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount       2.50%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		          
Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount       5.00%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		          
Term Loan Facility | Amount For The Final Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount       13.75%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupFourMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember		          
Revolving Credit Facility                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Line of credit, amount outstanding 303,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember		                
Line of credit facility, weighted average interest rate 2.65%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember		                
Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Current aggregate borrowing capacity       500,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember		          
2010 Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Credit agreement date         Aug. 19, 2010        
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Current aggregate borrowing capacity         100,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_CreditFacilityTwentyTenMember		        
Line of credit facility, frequency of payment and payment terms         The term loan facility was payable in quarterly principal installments commencing November 10, 2010. The installment amounts were scheduled to vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments and 5.00% of the original principal amount for the next subsequent three quarterly installments, with the balance due on the maturity date of August 19, 2014.        
Line of credit facility, frequency of payments         Quarterly        
Commencement date of principal payments         Nov. 10, 2010        
Debt maturity date         Aug. 19, 2014        
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | First Four Quarterly Installments                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount         1.25%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupOneMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_CreditFacilityTwentyTenMember		        
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Eight Quarterly Installments                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount         2.50%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_CreditFacilityTwentyTenMember		        
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Four Quarterly Installments                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount         5.00%pten_PrincipalPaymentsPercentage
/ pten_EventTimingAxis
= pten_GroupThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= pten_TermLoanFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_CreditFacilityTwentyTenMember		        
2010 Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity         400,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_CreditFacilityTwentyTenMember		        
Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Current aggregate borrowing capacity       150,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember		          
Swing Line Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Current aggregate borrowing capacity       40,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SwinglineLoansMember		          
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt maturity date           Oct. 05, 2020      
Number of compliance covenants           2pten_NumberOfCovenants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember		      
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount           300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember		      
Debt interest rate           4.97%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember		      
Notes issuance date           Oct. 05, 2010      
Description of the prepayment terms Notes are prepayable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, provided that in the case of a partial prepayment, prepayment must be in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, at any time and from time to time at 100% of the principal amount prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the prepayment date, plus a “make-whole” premium as specified in the note purchase agreements. The Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of any change of control. In addition, the Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of certain asset dispositions if the proceeds therefrom are not timely reinvested in productive assets. If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.                
Description of the acceptance terms If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.                
Acceptance terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest           100.00%pten_PercentageOfRepurchasePriceToPrincipalDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember		      
Note purchase agreement, financial covenant description The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 50% at any time. The note purchase agreements generally define the debt to capitalization ratio as the ratio of (a) total borrowed money indebtedness to (b) the sum of such indebtedness plus consolidated net worth, with consolidated net worth determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00. The note purchase agreements generally define the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of EBITDA for the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.                
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Minimum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter           2.50%pten_InterestCoverageRatio
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		      
Prepayment terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest and "make-whole" premium           100.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		      
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Maximum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time           50.00%pten_ConsolidatedDebtAsPercentageOfCapitalization
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		      
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt issuance costs             10,800,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesASeniorNotesFourPointNineSevenPercentDueOctoberFiveTwentyTwentyMember		    
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Semi Annual Payment, First Payment                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest pay date April 5                
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Semi Annual Payment, Second Payment                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest pay date October 5                
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt maturity date               Jun. 14, 2022  
Number of compliance covenants               2pten_NumberOfCovenants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember		  
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount               300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember		  
Debt interest rate               4.27%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember		  
Notes issuance date               Jun. 14, 2012  
Description of the prepayment terms Notes are prepayable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, provided that in the case of a partial prepayment, prepayment must be in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, at any time and from time to time at 100% of the principal amount prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the prepayment date, plus a “make-whole” premium as specified in the note purchase agreements. The Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of any change of control. In addition, the Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of certain asset dispositions if the proceeds therefrom are not timely reinvested in productive assets. If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.                
Description of the acceptance terms If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.                
Acceptance terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest               100.00%pten_PercentageOfRepurchasePriceToPrincipalDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember		  
Note purchase agreement, financial covenant description The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 50% at any time. The note purchase agreements generally define the debt to capitalization ratio as the ratio of (a) total borrowed money indebtedness to (b) the sum of such indebtedness plus consolidated net worth, with consolidated net worth determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00. The note purchase agreements generally define the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of EBITDA for the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.                
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Minimum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter               2.50%pten_InterestCoverageRatio
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		  
Prepayment terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest and "make-whole" premium               100.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		  
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Maximum                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time               50.00%pten_ConsolidatedDebtAsPercentageOfCapitalization
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		  
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Debt issuance costs     7,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_CreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pten_SeriesBSeniorNotesFourPointTwoSevenPercentDueJuneFourteenTwentyTwentyTwoMember		            
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Semi Annual Payment, First Payment                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest pay date April 5                
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Semi Annual Payment, Second Payment                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest pay date October 5                
Corporate Debt Securities | 2010 Credit Agreement                  
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]                  
Interest expense on debt extinguishment     $ 978,000pten_InterestExpenseOnDebtExtinguishment
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pten_TwoThousandTenCreditAgreementMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember