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): March 17, 2006

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-22664	75-2504748
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
4510 Lamesa Hwy., Snyder, Texas		79549
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 325-574-6300

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 17, 2006, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (the "Company") filed a Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing with respect to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2005 in which it stated pursuant to the requirements of the Form that it believes that fully diluted earnings per share will be approximately $2.15 for fiscal 2005 as compared with diluted earnings per share of $.56 for fiscal 2004.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

99.1 Press Release dated March 17, 2006.

The information in this report is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall not otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section and shall not be 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.
March 20, 2006	By:	/s/ John E. Vollmer III
		Name: John E. Vollmer III
		Title: Senior Vice President - Corporate Development, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Patterson-UTI Announces Completion of Audit Committee Investigation into Prior Embezzlement, Filing of Restated 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and Extension of Time for Filing 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K; Extension Filing Gives Indication of 2005 Earnings