XML 54 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

Compensation Expense Associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail) - Performance Units Awards - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2015
2015 |  |
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units | $ 338 |
2014 |  |
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units | 449 | $ 449
2013 |  |
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units | $ 464 | 464
2012 |  |
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units |  | $ 255

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 S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 2: 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 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
Name: | us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=pten_YearTwentyFifteenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=pten_YearTwentyFourteenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=pten_YearTwentyThirteenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=pten_YearTwentyTwelveMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |