Commitments Contingencies and Other Matters - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Letters of credit, collateral for retrospective premiums and retained losses	$ 39,800,000		$ 39,800,000
Amount drawn under letters of credit			0pten_AmountDrawnFromLetterOfCredit
Commitments to purchase major equipment	350,000,000		350,000,000
Current obligation	69,300,000		69,300,000
Obligation for remainder of the year	13,000,000		13,000,000
Settlement of fund for eligible participants	12,260,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Civil penalties for alleged RCRA violations		1,100,000
Civil penalties to resolve RCRA violations	500,000
Advances to Vendor
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Advance to non-affiliates	12,000,000		12,000,000
Notes receivable interest rate	5.00%		5.00%
Notes receivable	11,800,000		11,800,000
Repayment of notes receivable			9,700,000
Notes receivable outstanding	$ 2,100,000		$ 2,100,000

Advances to non affiliates.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount drawn from letter of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Civil penalties for alleged federal resource conservation and recovery violations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Civil penalties to resolve alleged federal resource conservation and recovery violations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Notes and loans receivable outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_NotesAndLoansReceivableOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes receivable interest rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s) more than one year from the balance sheet date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with principal collections from a borrowing supported by a written promise to pay an obligation.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum amount to be expended to satisfy the terms of arrangements in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services, excluding long-term purchase commitments or unconditional purchase obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 25

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 19

-Article 7

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 17

-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a)(19))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the unrecorded obligation to transfer funds in the future for fixed or minimum amounts or quantities of goods or services at fixed or minimum prices (for example, as in take-or-pay contracts or throughput contracts).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 440

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25336-109308

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the fixed and determinable portion of the unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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