1





                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (f/k/a "Patterson Energy, Inc.") and subsidiaries of
our report dated February 27, 2001 relating to the financial statements, which
appears in the Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000
of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.


                                                  /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


Houston, Texas
July 24, 2001