Consolidated debt as percentage of capitalization.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	pten_
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- Definition

Debt instrument initial maturity date optional extension period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt instrument number of optional extensions to initial maturity date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

Debt service coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pten_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility additional borrowing capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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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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- 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

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: 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=99377789&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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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

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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=6877327&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=6876686&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=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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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

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Data Type:	num: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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

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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

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

- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Long Term Debt - Credit Facilities - Additional Information (Detail)			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2018 USD ($) Option	Mar. 16, 2015	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding			$ 63,500,000	$ 63,500,000
Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding			0	0
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding			0	0
Line of credit, available borrowing capacity			$ 600,000,000	$ 600,000,000
Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit agreement date				Mar. 27, 2018
Credit agreement, financial covenant description				the Company’s total debt to capitalization ratio, expressed as a percentage, not exceed 50%. The Credit Agreement generally defines the 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			150.00%
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) \| 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 \| 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	$ 600,000,000
Debt maturity date	Mar. 27, 2023
Debt instrument, number of optional extensions to initial maturity date \| Option	2
Optional extension period of initial maturity date	1 year
Letters of credit outstanding			$ 81,000	$ 81,000
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
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding			$ 63,400,000	$ 63,400,000
Reimbursement Agreement \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate		2.25%