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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 24, 2000
relating to the financial statements, which appears in Patterson Energy Inc.'s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent
to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Accountants" in such
Registration Statement.


                                        PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP


Dallas, Texas
January 5, 2001