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Cash Dividends (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 27, 2014
Mar. 25, 2015
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]        
Cash dividends paid, per share $ 0.10us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid $ 0.10us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid    
Cash dividends paid $ 14,640us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash      
Installment 1, FY 2014        
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]        
Cash dividends paid, date   Mar. 27, 2014    
Cash dividends paid, per share     $ 0.10us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= pten_InstallmentOneFiscalYearTwoThousandFourteenMember
 
Installment 1, FY 2015        
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]        
Cash dividends paid, date Mar. 25, 2015      
Cash dividends paid, per share       $ 0.10us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= pten_InstallmentOneFiscalYearTwoThousandFifteenMember
Retained Earnings        
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]        
Cash dividends paid $ 14,640us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
$ 14,456us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember