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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): APRIL 30, 2003



                           PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



                                                                          
               DELAWARE                                 0-22664                              75-2504748
    (State or Other Jurisdiction of            (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
            Incorporation)



                    4510 LAMESA HIGHWAY
                       SNYDER, TEXAS                                                  79549
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                                   (Zip Code)




       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (325) 574-6300


                                       N/A
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)

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ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (the "Company") wishes to disclose its press
release dated April 30, 2003, relating to the Company's financial results for
the quarter ended March 31, 2003, furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1

         In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K and Securities
and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-8176, the above information is being
furnished under Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition", of
Form 8-K and is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities of that
section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.



Dated: April 30, 2003                   By: /s/ CLOYCE A. TALBOTT
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                       Cloyce A. Talbott
                                                    Chief Executive Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit           Description

               
99.1              Press Release dated April 30, 2003, relating to the Company's
                  financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003