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Fair Value of Stock Settled Performance Units (Detail) (Performance Units Awards, USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
2014
  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Aggregate fair value at date of grant $ 5,388pten_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardGrantDateFairValueOfAwards
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= pten_YearTwentyFourteenMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2013
  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Aggregate fair value at date of grant 5,564pten_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardGrantDateFairValueOfAwards
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= pten_YearTwentyThirteenMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2012
  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Aggregate fair value at date of grant 3,065pten_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardGrantDateFairValueOfAwards
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= pten_YearTwentyTwelveMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
2011
  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Aggregate fair value at date of grant $ 5,569pten_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardGrantDateFairValueOfAwards
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= pten_YearTwentyElevenMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember