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Compensation Expense Associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail) (Performance Units Awards, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2014
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	$ 1,347us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyFourteenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2013
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	1,855us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyThirteenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	1,391us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyThirteenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2012
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	1,022us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyTwelveMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	1,022us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyTwelveMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	766us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyTwelveMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2011
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	464us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyElevenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	1,856us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyElevenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	1,856us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyElevenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2010
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units		$ 260us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyTenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	$ 1,039us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = pten_YearTwentyTenMember / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember

X

- Details

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

X

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration