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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEER


I hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 No's 333-47917 and 333-39471 of Patterson Energy, Inc.
and its subsidiaries of information contained in my summary reserve reports
appearing in the Patterson Energy, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2000, relating to the oil and gas reserves as of December 31,
1998, 1999 and 2000.



                                                      /s/ M. BRIAN WALLACE, P.E.


Dallas, Texas
March 1, 2001