Consolidated debt as percentage of capitalization.

No definition available.

Name:	pten_ConsolidatedDebtAsPercentageOfCapitalization
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instrument initial maturity date optional extension period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_DebtInstrumentInitialMaturityDateOptionalExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instrument number of optional extensions to initial maturity date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_DebtInstrumentNumberOfOptionalExtensionsToInitialMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt service coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_DebtServiceCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility additional borrowing capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pten_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123874694&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeEnd1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the conditions for borrowing under the credit facility including the nature of any restrictions.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTerms
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility first became available, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInitiationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pten_CreditAgreementMember
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
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Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pten_SubjectToCustomaryConditionsMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Long-Term Debt - Credit Facilities - Additional Information (Detail)				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 07, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2018 USD ($) Option	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 22, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding				$ 71,500,000
Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowings outstanding				0
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowings outstanding				0
Line of credit, available borrowing capacity				$ 600,000,000
Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit agreement date			Mar. 27, 2018
Credit agreement, financial covenant description				our total debt to capitalization ratio, expressed as a percentage, not exceed 50%. The Credit Agreement generally defines the total debt to capitalization ratio as the ratio of (a) total borrowed money indebtedness to (b) the sum of such indebtedness plus consolidated net worth, with consolidated net worth determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter.
Credit Agreement \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commitment fee rate payable to lenders based on credit rating				0.10%
Debt service coverage ratio				1.50%
Credit Agreement \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commitment fee rate payable to lenders based on credit rating				0.30%
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time				50.00%
Credit Agreement \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				1.75%
Credit Agreement \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				1.00%
Credit Agreement \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				2.00%
Credit Agreement \| Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				0.75%
Credit Agreement \| Base Rate \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				0.00%
Credit Agreement \| Base Rate \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				1.00%
Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 550,000,000	$ 600,000,000
Debt maturity date			Mar. 27, 2023
Extend maturity date range, Start		Mar. 27, 2024
Extend maturity date range, End		Mar. 27, 2025
Debt instrument, number of optional extensions to initial maturity date \| Option			1
Optional extension period of initial maturity date			1 year
Letters of credit outstanding				$ 100,000
Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Subject To Customary Conditions
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 900,000,000
Credit facility, additional borrowing capacity			300,000,000
Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			150,000,000
Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Swing Line Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 20,000,000
Reimbursement Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding				$ 71,400,000
Letters of credit Additional Issuance	$ 7,300,000
Reimbursement Agreement [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				2.25%
Term Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit agreement date				Aug. 22, 2019
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					$ 150,000,000