Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) 10-K 12 Feb 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 05, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	PTEN
Entity Registrant Name	PATTERSON UTI ENERGY INC
Entity Central Index Key	889900
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		146,458,290
Entity Public Float			$5

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$43,012	$249,509
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,546 and $3,674 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	663,404	451,517
Federal and state income taxes receivable	81,726
Inventory	32,251	21,248
Deferred tax assets, net	37,075	32,952
Other	51,624	53,424
Total current assets	909,092	808,650
Property and equipment, net	4,131,071	3,635,541
Goodwill and intangible assets	220,813	167,470
Deposits on equipment purchases	112,379	52,560
Other	20,656	22,906
Total assets	5,394,011	4,687,127
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	382,438	173,150
Federal and state income taxes payable		10,670
Accrued expenses	173,466	160,457
Current portion of long-term debt	12,500	10,000
Total current liabilities	568,404	354,277
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	303,000
Other long-term debt	670,000	682,500
Deferred tax liabilities, net	935,660	887,864
Other	11,137	6,489
Total liabilities	2,488,201	1,931,130
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 8)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01; authorized 1,000,000 shares, no shares issued
Common stock, par value $.01; authorized 300,000,000 shares with 189,262,876 and 186,487,246 issued and 146,444,291 and 144,219,189 outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	1,893	1,865
Additional paid-in capital	984,674	913,505
Retained earnings	2,811,815	2,707,439
Accumulated other comprehensive income	6,463	14,076
Treasury stock, at cost, 42,818,585 shares and 42,268,057 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	-899,035	-880,888
Total stockholders’ equity	2,905,810	2,755,997
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$5,394,011	$4,687,127

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$3,546	$3,674
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, authorized	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, issued	189,262,876	186,487,246
Common stock, outstanding	146,444,291	144,219,189
Treasury stock, shares	42,818,585	42,268,057

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$3,182,291		$2,716,034		$2,723,414
Operating costs and expenses:
Contract drilling	1,066,659		968,754		1,075,491
Pressure pumping	1,036,310		744,243		580,878
Oil and natural gas	13,102		12,909		11,303
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	718,730		597,469		526,614
Selling, general and administrative	80,145		73,852		64,473
Net gain on asset disposals	-15,781	[1]	-3,384	[1]	-33,806	[1]
Provision for bad debts	0		0		1,100
Total operating costs and expenses	2,899,165		2,393,843		2,226,053
Operating income	283,126		322,191		497,361
Other income (expense):
Interest income	979		918		554
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-29,825		-28,359		-22,750
Other	3		1,691		508
Total other expense	-28,843		-25,750		-21,688
Income before income taxes	254,283		296,441		475,673
Income tax expense:
Current	47,946		57,863		15,760
Deferred	43,673		50,569		160,436
Total income tax expense	91,619		108,432		176,196
Net income	162,664		188,009		299,477
Net income per common share:
Basic	$1.12		$1.29		$1.96
Diluted	$1.11		$1.28		$1.96
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	144,066		144,356		151,144
Diluted	145,376		145,303		151,699
Cash dividends per common share	$0.40		$0.20		$0.20
Contract Drilling
Operating revenues:
Oil and gas services	1,838,830		1,679,611		1,821,713
Pressure Pumping
Operating revenues:
Oil and gas services	1,293,265		979,166		841,771
Oil And Natural Gas
Operating revenues:
Oil and natural gas	$50,196		$57,257		$59,930
[1]	Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$162,664	$188,009	$299,477
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes of $0 for 2014, $0 for 2013 and $0 for 2012:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-7,613	-7,691	2,308
Total comprehensive income	$155,051	$180,318	$301,785

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), taxes	$0	$0	$0

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Treasury Stock
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$2,516,631	$1,833	$840,731	$2,279,367	$19,459	($624,759)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		183,295,000
Net income	299,477			299,477
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,308				2,308
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		792,000
Issuance of restricted stock		8	-8
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		8,000
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)		-99,000
Forfeitures of restricted stock		-1	1
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		64,000
Exercise of stock options	934	1	933
Stock-based compensation	23,185		23,185
Tax benefit (expense) related to stock-based compensation	-1,284		-1,284
Payment of cash dividends	-30,302			-30,302
Purchase of treasury stock	-170,292					-170,292
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,640,657	1,841	863,558	2,548,542	21,767	-795,051
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		184,060,000
Net income	188,009			188,009
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-7,691				-7,691
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		1,312,000
Issuance of restricted stock		13	-13
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		9,000
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)		-84,000
Forfeitures of restricted stock		-1	1
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,190,000
Exercise of stock options	19,286	12	19,274
Stock-based compensation	25,891		25,891
Tax benefit (expense) related to stock-based compensation	4,794		4,794
Payment of cash dividends	-29,112			-29,112
Purchase of treasury stock	-85,837					-85,837
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	2,755,997	1,865	913,505	2,707,439	14,076	-880,888
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	186,487,246	186,487,246
Net income	162,664			162,664
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-7,613				-7,613
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		1,102,000
Issuance of restricted stock		11	-11
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		10,000
Vesting of restricted stock units	1	1
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)		-61,000
Forfeitures of restricted stock		-1	1
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	1,725,195	1,725,000
Exercise of stock options	35,435	17	35,418
Stock-based compensation	27,032		27,032
Tax benefit (expense) related to stock-based compensation	8,729		8,729
Payment of cash dividends	-58,288			-58,288
Purchase of treasury stock	-18,147					-18,147
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$2,905,810	$1,893	$984,674	$2,811,815	$6,463	($899,035)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	189,262,876	189,262,876

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$162,664		$188,009		$299,477
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	718,730		597,469		526,614
Provision for bad debts	0		0		1,100
Dry holes and abandonments	550		89		308
Deferred income tax expense	43,673		50,569		160,436
Stock-based compensation expense	27,032		25,891		23,185
Net gain on asset disposals	-15,781	[1]	-3,384	[1]	-33,806	[1]
Tax expense related to stock-based compensation					-1,284
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	-214,059		12,007		52,612
Income taxes receivable/payable	-92,352		4,447		3,506
Inventory and other assets	-5,737		570		5,276
Accounts payable	86,621		11,331		-25,199
Accrued expenses	12,838		1,973		-6,048
Other liabilities	4,547		-100		-837
Net cash provided by operating activities	728,726		888,871		1,005,340
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions	-176,301
Purchases of property and equipment	-1,052,341		-662,461		-973,988
Proceeds from disposal of assets	33,233		10,386		66,027
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,195,409		-652,075		-907,961
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of treasury stock	-13,554		-73,510		-170,292
Dividends paid	-58,288		-29,112		-30,302
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation	8,729		4,794
Proceeds from long-term debt					400,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-10,000		-6,250		-93,750
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	349,500				123,400
Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility	-46,500				-233,400
Debt issuance costs					-7,581
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	30,842		6,959		934
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	260,729		-97,119		-10,991
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	-543		-891		389
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-206,497		138,786		86,777
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	249,509		110,723		23,946
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	43,012		249,509		110,723
Net cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest of $6,883 in 2014, $7,775 in 2013 and $8,673 in 2012	-27,813		-26,228		-16,651
Income taxes	-125,953		-42,600		-7,964
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in payables for purchases of property and equipment	122,148		-26,899		-27,838
Net (increase) decrease in deposits on equipment purchases	($59,819)		($8,784)		$55,767
[1]	Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Interest expense, capitalized interest	$6,883	$7,775	$8,673

Description_of_Business_and_Su

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	A description of the business and basis of presentation follows:
	Description of business — Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “Patterson-UTI” or the “Company”), provides onshore contract drilling services to major and independent oil and natural gas operators in the continental United States, and western and northern Canada.  The Company provides pressure pumping services to oil and natural gas operators primarily in Texas and the Appalachian region.  The Company also invests in oil and natural gas properties on a non-operating working interest basis.
	Basis of presentation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Patterson-UTI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  Except for wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Company has no controlling financial interests in any other entity which would require consolidation.
	The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for all of the Company’s operations except for its Canadian operations, which use the Canadian dollar as its functional currency.  The effects of exchange rate changes are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
	A summary of the significant accounting policies follows:
	Management estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from such estimates.
	Revenue recognition — Revenues from daywork drilling and pressure pumping activities are recognized as services are performed.  Expenditures reimbursed by customers are recognized as revenue and the related expenses are recognized as direct costs.  All of the wells the Company drilled in 2014, 2013 and 2012 were drilled under daywork contracts.
	Accounts receivable — Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount.  The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s estimate of the amount of probable credit losses existing in the Company’s accounts receivable.  The Company reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts at least quarterly.  Significant individual accounts receivable balances and balances which have been outstanding greater than 90 days are reviewed individually for collectability.  Account balances, when determined to be uncollectable, are charged against the allowance.
	Inventories — Inventories consist primarily of sand and other products to be used in conjunction with the Company’s pressure pumping activities.  The inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined under the average cost method.
	Property and equipment — Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.  The method of depreciation does not change whenever equipment becomes idle.  The estimated useful lives, in years, are shown below:
		Useful Lives
	Drilling rigs and other equipment	1.25-15
	Buildings	15-20
	Other	12-Mar
	Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are evaluated for impairment when certain triggering events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable over their estimated remaining useful life.
	Oil and natural gas properties — Working interests in oil and natural gas properties are accounted for using the successful efforts method of accounting.  Under the successful efforts method of accounting, exploration costs which result in the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves and all development costs are capitalized to the appropriate well.  Exploration costs which do not result in discovering oil and natural gas reserves are charged to expense when such determination is made.  Costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized to wells-in-progress until the outcome of the drilling is known.  The Company reviews wells-in-progress quarterly to determine whether sufficient progress is being made in assessing the reserves and economic viability of the respective projects.  If no progress has been made in assessing the reserves and economic viability of a project after one year following the completion of drilling, the Company considers the well costs to be impaired and recognizes the costs as expense.  Geological and geophysical costs, including seismic costs, and costs to carry and retain undeveloped properties are charged to expense when incurred.  The capitalized costs of both developmental and successful exploratory type wells, consisting of lease and well equipment and intangible development costs, are depreciated, depleted and amortized using the units-of-production method, based on engineering estimates of total proved developed oil and natural gas reserves for each respective field.  Oil and natural gas leasehold acquisition costs are depreciated, depleted and amortized using the units-of-production method, based on engineering estimates of total proved oil and natural gas reserves for each respective field.
	The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever a triggering event occurs, such as downward revisions in reserve estimates or decreases in expected future oil and natural gas prices.  Proved properties are grouped by field and undiscounted cash flow estimates are prepared based on management’s expectation of future pricing over the lives of the respective fields.  These cash flow estimates are reviewed by an independent petroleum engineer.  If the net book value of a field exceeds its undiscounted cash flow estimate, impairment expense is measured and recognized as the difference between net book value and fair value.  The fair value estimates used in measuring impairment are based on internally developed unobservable inputs including reserve volumes and future production, pricing and operating costs (level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy of fair value accounting).  The expected future net cash flows are discounted using an annual rate of 10% to determine fair value.  The Company reviews unproved oil and natural gas properties quarterly to assess potential impairment.  The Company’s impairment assessment is made on a lease-by-lease basis and considers factors such as management’s intent to drill, lease terms and abandonment of an area.  If an unproved property is determined to be impaired, the related property costs are expensed.
	Goodwill — Goodwill is considered to have an indefinite useful economic life and is not amortized.  The Company assesses impairment of its goodwill at least annually as of December 31, or on an interim basis if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of goodwill may have decreased below its carrying value.
	Maintenance and repairs — Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred.  Renewals and betterments which extend the life or improve existing property and equipment are capitalized.
	Disposals — Upon disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations.
	Net income per common share — The Company provides a dual presentation of its net income per common share in its consolidated statements of operations: Basic net income per common share (“Basic EPS”) and diluted net income per common share (“Diluted EPS”).
	Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by first allocating earnings between common stockholders and holders of non-vested shares of restricted stock.  Basic EPS is then determined by dividing the earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock.
	Diluted EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of potential common shares, including stock options, non-vested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units.  The dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units is determined using the treasury stock method.  The dilutive effect of non-vested shares of restricted stock is based on the more dilutive of the treasury stock method or the two-class method, assuming a reallocation of undistributed earnings to common stockholders after considering the dilutive effect of potential common shares other than non-vested shares of restricted stock.
	The following table presents information necessary to calculate income from continuing operations per share and net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, as well as potentially dilutive securities excluded from the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014			2013			2012
	BASIC EPS:
	Net income	$	162,664		$	188,009		$	299,477
	Adjust for income attributed to holders of non-vested restricted stock		(1,663	)		(1,859	)		(2,532	)
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Basic net income per common share	$	1.12		$	1.29		$	1.96
	DILUTED EPS:
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Add dilutive effect of potential common shares		1,310			947			555
	Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		145,376			145,303			151,699
	Diluted income per common share	$	1.11		$	1.28		$	1.96
	Potentially dilutive securities excluded as anti-dilutive		1,088			2,447			5,416
	Income taxes — The asset and liability method is used in accounting for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.  If applicable, a valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.  The Company’s policy is to account for interest and penalties with respect to income taxes as operating expenses.
	Stock-based compensation — The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments under the fair-value-based method.  Under this method, compensation cost related to share-based payments is measured based on the estimated fair value of the awards at the date of grant, net of estimated forfeitures.  This expense is recognized over the expected life of the awards (See Note 10).
	Statement of cash flows — For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit and money market funds.
	Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standards update to provide guidance on the recognition of revenue from customers.  Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services.  This guidance also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty, if any, of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.  The requirements in this update are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to provide guidance on the accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period.  The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period is treated as a
	performance condition.  The requirements in this update are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	2. Acquisitions
	During 2014, the Company completed two pressure pumping acquisitions. In June 2014, a subsidiary of the Company acquired the East Texas-based pressure pumping assets of a privately held company. This acquisition included 31,500 horsepower of hydraulic fracturing equipment. In October 2014, a subsidiary of the Company completed the acquisition of the Texas-based pressure pumping assets of a privately held company. This acquisition included 148,250 horsepower of hydraulic fracturing equipment.
	In total, the Company paid $176 million in cash for these two acquisitions plus the assumption of property leases and other contractual obligations. The purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired based on fair value. A summary of the purchase price allocation follows (in thousands):
	Inventory	$	1,357
	Equipment		117,958
	Goodwill		56,986
	Total purchase price	$	176,301
	Results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations from their respective dates of acquisition. Revenues of $80.8 million and income from operations of $13.7 million from the acquired businesses are included in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	The following represents pro-forma unaudited financial information for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 as if the acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014		2013
		(Unaudited)
	Revenue	$	3,302,492	$	2,854,867
	Net income	$	169,831	$	196,600
	Basic net income per common share	$	1.17	$	1.35
	Diluted net income per common share	$	1.16	$	1.34

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	3. Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Equipment	$	6,679,894		$	5,749,975
	Oil and natural gas properties		196,234			183,571
	Buildings		83,465			80,050
	Land		12,038			12,054
			6,971,631			6,025,650
	Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment		(2,840,560	)		(2,390,109	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	4,131,071		$	3,635,541
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment — The following table summarizes depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense related to property and equipment and intangible assets for 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Depreciation and impairment expense	$	693,390		$	573,106		$	502,953
	Amortization expense		3,643			3,993			4,110
	Depletion expense		21,697			20,370			19,551
	Total	$	718,730		$	597,469		$	526,614
	The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable (a “triggering event”). In light of the significant decline in oil and natural gas commodity prices beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014 and continuing into 2015, management deemed it necessary to assess the recoverability of long-lived assets within its contract drilling and pressure pumping segments. With respect to the long-lived assets in the Company’s oil and natural gas exploration and production segment, the Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets at the end of each quarter due to revisions in its oil and natural gas reserve estimates and expectations about future commodity prices.
	Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows can be separated from other long-lived assets. The Company performs the first step of its impairment assessments by comparing the undiscounted cash flows for each long-lived asset or asset group to its respective carrying value. In 2014, the Company’s analysis indicated that the carrying amounts of long-lived assets in the contract drilling and pressure pumping segments were recoverable. The Company’s analysis indicated that the carrying amounts of certain oil and natural gas properties were not recoverable at various testing dates in 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company’s estimates of expected future net cash flows from impaired properties are used in measuring the fair value of such properties. The Company recorded impairment charges of $20.9 million, $4.0 million and $1.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to its oil and natural gas properties.
	On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its fleet of drilling rigs for marketability based on the condition of inactive rigs, expenditures that would be necessary to bring them to working condition and the expected demand for drilling services by rig type (such as drilling conventional vertical wells versus drilling longer horizontal wells using high capacity rigs).  The components comprising rigs that will no longer be marketed are evaluated, and those components with continuing utility to the Company’s other marketed rigs are transferred to other rigs or to its yards to be used as spare equipment.  The remaining components of these rigs are retired.  In 2014, the Company identified 55 mechanical rigs that it determined would no longer be marketed.  The Company recorded a charge of $77.9 million related to the retirement of these mechanical rigs and the write-off of excess spare components for the now reduced size of the Company’s mechanical fleet.  In 2013, the Company identified 48 rigs that would no longer be marketed.  Also, the Company had 55 additional mechanical rigs that were not operating.  Although these 55 rigs remained marketable at the time, the Company had lower expectations with respect to utilization of these rigs due to the industry shift to electric powered drilling rigs.  The Company recorded a charge of $37.8 million related to the retirement of the 48 rigs and the 55 mechanical rigs that remained marketable but were not operating.  In 2012, the Company identified 36 rigs that it determined would no longer be marketed and recorded a charge of $5.2 million related to the retirement of these rigs.
	In 2013, due to a shift in customer demand away from mechanically powered drilling rigs to electric powered drilling rigs, the Company recorded in its consolidated statement of operations a charge of $29.9 million related to 55 mechanical rigs that were not under contract. Although these 55 rigs remained marketable at the time, the Company had lower expectations with respect to utilization of these rigs due to the industry shift to electric powered drilling rigs. There were no similar charges in 2014 or 2012.
	The Company also evaluates its fleet of marketable pressure pumping equipment and in 2012 identified approximately 37,000 horsepower of pressure pumping equipment that would be retired. The net book value of these assets of $7.3 million was expensed in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. There were no similar charges in 2014 or 2013.
	During 2012, the Company sold its flowback operations in a cash transaction. The sale price was $42.5 million and the Company recognized a gain on disposal of $22.6 million.

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
	Goodwill — Goodwill by operating segment as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and changes for the years then ended are as follows (in thousands):
		Contract		Pressure
		Drilling		Pumping			Total
	Balance December 31, 2012	$	86,234	$	67,575		$	153,809
	Changes to goodwill	—		—				-
	Balance December 31, 2013		86,234		67,575			153,809
	Changes to goodwill	—			56,986			56,986
	Balance December 31, 2014	$	86,234	$	124,561		$	210,795
	There were no accumulated impairment losses as of December 31, 2014 or 2013.
	Goodwill is evaluated at least annually on December 31, or when circumstances require, to determine if the fair value of recorded goodwill has decreased below its carrying value. For purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is evaluated at the reporting unit level.  The Company’s reporting units for impairment testing have been determined to be its operating segments. The Company first determines whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value after considering qualitative, market and other factors.  If so, then goodwill impairment is determined using a two-step impairment test. From time to time, the Company may perform the first step of quantitative testing for goodwill impairment in lieu of performing a qualitative assessment. The first step is to compare the fair value of an entity’s reporting units to the respective carrying value of those reporting units. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed whereby the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to its identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities with any remaining fair value representing the fair value of goodwill. If this resulting fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized in the amount of the shortfall.
	The Company performed a quantitative impairment assessment of its goodwill as of December 31, 2013.  In completing the first step of the analysis, the Company used a three-year projection of discounted cash flows, plus a terminal value determined using the constant growth method to estimate the fair value of the reporting units. In developing this fair value estimate, the Company applied key assumptions including an assumed discount rate of 11.87% for the contract drilling reporting unit and an assumed discount rate of 12.40% for the pressure pumping reporting unit. An assumed long-term growth rate of 3.00% was used for both reporting units.  Based on the results of the first step of the impairment test in 2013, the Company concluded that no impairment was indicated in its contract drilling or pressure pumping reporting units as the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value.
	In connection with its annual goodwill impairment assessment as of December 31, 2014, the Company determined based on an assessment of qualitative factors that it was more likely than not that the fair values of the Company’s reporting units were greater than their carrying amounts and further testing was not necessary. In making this determination, the Company considered the continued demand experienced during 2014 for its services in the contract drilling and pressure pumping businesses. The Company also considered the current and expected levels of commodity prices for oil and natural gas, which influence its overall level of business activity in these operating segments. Additionally, operating results for 2014 and forecasted operating results for 2015 were also taken into account. The Company’s overall market capitalization and the large amount of calculated excess of the fair values of the Company’s reporting units over their carrying values from its 2013 quantitative impairment assessment were also considered.
	The Company has undertaken extensive efforts in the past several years to upgrade its fleet of equipment and believes that it is well positioned from a competitive standpoint to satisfy demand for high technology drilling of unconventional horizontal wells, which should help mitigate decreases in demand for drilling conventional vertical wells that has resulted primarily from currently low oil and natural gas prices. In the event that market conditions were to remain weak for a protracted period, the Company may be required to record an impairment of goodwill in its contract drilling or pressure pumping reporting units in the future, and such impairment could be material.
	Intangible Assets — Intangible assets were recorded in the pressure pumping operating segment in connection with the fourth quarter 2010 acquisition of the assets of a pressure pumping business.  As a result of the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded intangible assets related to a non-compete agreement and the customer relationships acquired. These intangible assets were recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition.
	The non-compete agreement had a term of three years from October 1, 2010. The value of this agreement was estimated using a with and without scenario where cash flows were projected through the term of the agreement assuming the agreement is in place and compared to cash flows assuming the non-compete agreement was not in place. The intangible asset associated with the non-compete agreement was amortized on a straight-line basis over the three-year term of the agreement.  Amortization expense of $350,000 and $467,000 was recorded in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, associated with the non-compete agreement. The non-compete agreement expired in 2013.
	The value of the customer relationships was estimated using a multi-period excess earnings model to determine the present value of the projected cash flows associated with the customers in place at the time of the acquisition and taking into account a contributory asset charge. The resulting intangible asset is being amortized on a straight-line basis over seven years. Amortization expense of $3.6 million was recorded in each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, associated with customer relationships.
	The Company concluded no triggering events necessitating an impairment assessment of the non-compete agreement had occurred in 2013 or 2012. The Company concluded no triggering events necessitating an impairment assessment of the customer relationships had occurred in 2014, 2013 or 2012.
	The following table presents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the customer relationships as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014							2013
		Gross Carrying		Accumulated			Net Carrying		Gross Carrying		Accumulated			Net Carrying
		Amount		Amortization			Amount		Amount		Amortization			Amount
	Customer relationships	$	25,500	$	(15,482	)	$	10,018	$	25,500	$	(11,839	)	$	13,661

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	5. Accrued Expenses
	Accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Salaries, wages, payroll taxes and benefits	$	52,956	$	45,836
	Workers’ compensation liability		77,348		74,975
	Property, sales, use and other taxes		11,644		12,367
	Insurance, other than workers’ compensation		9,632		10,129
	Accrued interest payable		7,427		7,604
	Other		14,459		9,546
		$	173,466	$	160,457

Asset_Retirement_Obligation

Asset Retirement Obligation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Asset Retirement Obligation	6. Asset Retirement Obligation
	The Company records a liability for the estimated costs to be incurred in connection with the abandonment of oil and natural gas properties in the future. This liability is included in the caption “other” in the liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheet. The following table describes the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligations during 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	4,837		$	4,422
	Liabilities incurred		473			375
	Liabilities settled		(197	)		(126	)
	Accretion expense		169			166
	Revision in estimated costs of plugging oil and natural gas wells		19			—
	Asset retirement obligation at end of year	$	5,301		$	4,837

Long_Term_Debt

Long Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long Term Debt	7. Long Term Debt
	Credit Facilities—On August 19, 2010, the Company entered into a committed senior unsecured Credit Agreement (the “2010 Credit Agreement”) which included a revolving credit facility that permitted aggregate borrowings of up to $400 million and a $100 million term loan facility. The term loan facility was fully drawn on August 19, 2010. The term loan facility was payable in quarterly principal installments commencing November 10, 2010. The installment amounts were scheduled to vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments and 5.00% of the original principal amount for the next subsequent three quarterly installments, with the balance due on the maturity date of August 19, 2014. The outstanding balance of the term loan facility was paid in full on June 14, 2012.
	On September 27, 2012, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, letter of credit issuer, swing line lender and lender, and each of the other lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement is a committed senior unsecured credit facility that includes a revolving credit facility and a term loan facility. The Credit Agreement replaced the 2010 Credit Agreement.
	The revolving credit facility permits aggregate borrowings of up to $500 million outstanding at any time. The revolving credit facility contains a letter of credit facility that is limited to $150 million and a swing line facility that is limited to $40 million, in each case outstanding at any time.
	The term loan facility provides for a loan of $100 million, which was drawn on December 24, 2012. The term loan facility is payable in quarterly principal installments, which commenced December 27, 2012. The installment amounts vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments, 5.00% of the original principal amount for the subsequent four quarterly installments and 13.75% of the original principal amount for the final four quarterly installments.
	Subject to customary conditions, the Company may request that the lenders’ aggregate commitments with respect to the revolving credit facility and/or the term loan facility be increased by up to $100 million, not to exceed total commitments of $700 million. The maturity date under the Credit Agreement is September 27, 2017 for both the revolving facility and the term facility.
	Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest by reference, at the Company’s election, to the LIBOR rate or base rate, provided, that swing line loans bear interest by reference only to the base rate. The applicable margin on LIBOR rate loans varies from 2.25% to 3.25% and the applicable margin on base rate loans varies from 1.25% to 2.25%, in each case determined based upon the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2014, the applicable margin on LIBOR rate loans was 2.25% and the applicable margin on base rate loans was 1.25%. Based on the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio at December 31, 2014, the applicable margin on LIBOR loans will be 2.75% and the applicable margin on base rate loans will be 1.75% as of April 1, 2015. A letter of credit fee is payable by the Company equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR rate loans times the amount available to be drawn under outstanding letters of credit. The commitment fee rate payable to the lenders for the unused portion of the credit facility is 0.50%.
	Each U.S. subsidiary of the Company, other than one domestic holding company and certain immaterial subsidiaries, has unconditionally guaranteed all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of the other guarantors and the Company arising under the Credit Agreement and other loan documents. Such guarantees also cover obligations of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company arising under any interest rate swap contract with any person while such person is a lender or an affiliate of a lender under the Credit Agreement.
	The Credit Agreement requires compliance with two financial covenants. The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 45%. 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 last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement generally defines the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014. The Credit Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants.
	Events of default under the Credit Agreement include failure to pay principal or interest when due, failure to comply with the financial and operational covenants, as well as a cross default event, loan document enforceability event, change of control event and bankruptcy and other insolvency events. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then a majority of the lenders have the right, among others, to (i) terminate the commitments under the Credit Agreement, (ii) accelerate and require the Company to repay all the outstanding amounts owed under any loan document (provided that in limited circumstances with respect to insolvency and bankruptcy of the Company, such acceleration is automatic), and (iii) require the Company to cash collateralize any outstanding letters of credit.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $82.5 million principal amount outstanding under the term loan facility at an interest rate of 2.50% and $303 million principal amount outstanding under the revolving credit facility at a weighted average interest rate of 2.65%. The Company had $39.8 million in letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2014 and, as a result, had available borrowing capacity of approximately $157 million at that date.
	Senior Notes – On October 5, 2010, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.97% Series A Senior Notes due October 5, 2020 (the “Series A Notes”) in a private placement. The Series A Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.97% per annum. The Company will pay interest on the Series A Notes on April 5 and October 5 of each year. The Series A Notes will mature on October 5, 2020.
	On June 14, 2012, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $300 million in aggregate principal amounts of its 4.27% Series B Senior Notes due June 14, 2022 (the “Series B Notes”) in a private placement. The Series B Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.27% per annum. The Company will pay interest on the Series B Notes on April 5 and October 5 of each year. The Series B Notes will mature on June 14, 2022.
	The Series A Notes and Series B Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company which rank equally in right of payment with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Series A Notes and Series B Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of the existing domestic subsidiaries of the Company other than immaterial subsidiaries.
	The Series A Notes and Series B Notes are prepayable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, provided that in the case of a partial prepayment, prepayment must be in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, at any time and from time to time at 100% of the principal amount prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the prepayment date, plus a “make-whole” premium as specified in the note purchase agreements. The Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of any change of control. In addition, the Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of certain asset dispositions if the proceeds therefrom are not timely reinvested in productive assets. If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.
	The respective note purchase agreements require compliance with two financial covenants. The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 50% at any time. The note purchase agreements generally define 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 last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00. The note purchase agreements generally define the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of EBITDA for the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
	Events of default under the note purchase agreements include failure to pay principal or interest when due, failure to comply with the financial and operational covenants, a cross default event, a judgment in excess of a threshold event, the guaranty agreement ceasing to be enforceable, the occurrence of certain ERISA events, a change of control event and bankruptcy and other insolvency events. If an event of default under the note purchase agreements occurs and is continuing, then holders of a majority in principal amount of the respective notes have the right to declare all the notes then-outstanding to be immediately due and payable. In addition, if the Company defaults in payments on any note, then until such defaults are cured, the holder thereof may declare all the notes held by it pursuant to the note purchase agreement to be immediately due and payable.
	The Company incurred approximately $10.8 million in debt issuance costs during 2010 in connection with the 2010 Credit Agreement and the Series A Notes. The Company incurred approximately $7.6 million in debt issuance costs during 2012 in connection with the Series B Notes and the Credit Agreement. These costs were deferred and are recognized as interest expense over the term of the underlying debt. Interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs for the 2010 Credit Agreement, the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes and the Credit Agreement was approximately $2.2 million, $2.2 million and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The amount for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes $978,000 of costs related to the early termination of the 2010 Credit Agreement.
	Presented below is a schedule of the principal repayment requirements of long-term debt by fiscal year as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	12,500
	2016		28,750
	2017		344,250
	2018		—
	2019		—
	Thereafter		600,000
	Total	$	985,500

Commitments_Contingencies_and_

Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters	8. Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters
	Commitments – As of December 31, 2014, the Company maintained letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $39.8 million for the benefit of various insurance companies as collateral for retrospective premiums and retained losses which could become payable under the terms of the underlying insurance contracts. These letters of credit expire annually at various times during the year and are typically renewed.  As of December 31, 2014, no amounts had been drawn under the letters of credit.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had commitments to purchase approximately $512 million of major equipment for its drilling and pressure pumping businesses.
	The Company’s pressure pumping business has entered into agreements to purchase minimum quantities of proppants and chemicals from certain vendors. These agreements expire in 2016, 2017 and 2018. As of December 31, 2014, the remaining obligation under these agreements was approximately $71.8 million, of which materials with a total purchase price of approximately $15.4 million are required to be purchased during 2015. In the event that the required minimum quantities are not purchased during any contract year, the Company could be required to make a liquidated damages payment to the respective vendor for any shortfall.
	In November 2011, the Company’s pressure pumping business entered into an agreement with a proppant vendor to advance up to $12.0 million to such vendor to finance the construction of certain processing facilities. This advance is secured by the underlying processing facilities and bears interest at an annual rate of 5.0%. Repayment of the advance is to be made through discounts applied to purchases from the vendor and repayment of all amounts advanced must be made no later than October 1, 2017. As of December 31, 2014, advances of approximately $11.8 million had been made under this agreement and repayments of approximately $8.6 million had been received resulting in a balance outstanding of approximately $3.2 million.
	Contingencies – In May 2013, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) notified the Company of cause findings related to certain of its employment practices. The cause findings relate to allegations that the Company tolerated a hostile work environment for employees based on national origin and race. The cause findings also allege, among other things, failure to promote, subjecting employees to adverse employment terms and conditions and retaliation. The Company and the EEOC engaged in the statutory conciliation process. In March 2014, the EEOC notified the Company that this matter will be forwarded to its legal unit for litigation review. In November 2014, the Company and the EEOC participated in a mediation to resolve the matter. Discussions are ongoing. If no resolution is reached, the Company believes that litigation will ensue, and the Company intends to defend itself vigorously. Based on the information available to the Company at this time, the Company does not expect the outcome of this matter to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows; however, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of this matter.
	In October 2014, the Company was notified by EPA Region 6 that it intends to seek civil penalties for alleged RCRA administrative violations at a former facility of one of the Company’s subsidiaries in Midland, Texas. The EPA subsequently alleged RCRA administrative violations at other facilities of that subsidiary and are seeking an aggregate monetary penalty of approximately $1.1 million. The Company is in negotiations with the EPA regarding the scope and amount of any potential settlement. The Company does not expect the outcome of this matter to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	The Company’s operations are subject to many hazards inherent in the contract drilling and pressure pumping businesses, including inclement weather, blowouts, well fires, loss of well control, pollution and reservoir damage. These hazards could cause personal injury or death, work stoppage, and serious damage to equipment and other property, as well as significant environmental and reservoir damages. These risks could expose the Company to substantial liability for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, loss of oil and natural gas production, pollution and other environmental damages.
	Any contractual right to indemnification that the Company may have for any such risk, may be unenforceable or limited due to negligent or willful acts of commission or omission by the Company, its subcontractors and/or suppliers. The Company’s customers may dispute, or be unable to meet, their contractual indemnification obligations to the Company due to financial, legal or other reasons. Accordingly, the Company may be unable to transfer these risks to its customers by contract or indemnification agreements. Incurring a liability for which the Company is not fully indemnified or insured could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
	The Company has insurance coverage for comprehensive general liability, automobile liability, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, and certain other specific risks. The Company has also elected in some cases to accept a greater amount of risk through increased deductibles on certain insurance policies.  For example, the Company generally maintains a $1.5 million per occurrence deductible on its workers’ compensation and equipment insurance coverages and a $2.0 million per occurrence self-insured retention on its general liability coverage and $2.0 million per occurrence deductible on its automobile liability insurance coverage. The Company self-insures a number of other risks, including loss of earnings and business interruption, and does not carry a significant amount of insurance to cover risks of underground reservoir damage. If a significant accident or other event occurs and is not fully covered by insurance or an enforceable or recoverable indemnity from a customer, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.  Accrued expenses related to insurance claims are set forth in Note 5.
	The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. The Company does not believe that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	Other Matters — The Company has Change in Control Agreements with its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, two Senior Vice Presidents and its General Counsel (the “Key Employees”). Each Change in Control Agreement generally has an initial term with automatic twelve-month renewals unless the Company notifies the Key Employee at least ninety days before the end of such renewal period that the term will not be extended. If a change in control of the Company occurs during the term of the agreement and the Key Employee’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for cause or other than automatically as a result of death, disability or retirement, or (ii) by the Key Employee for good reason (as those terms are defined in the Change in Control Agreements), then the Key Employee shall generally be entitled to, among other things:
	—	a bonus payment equal to the highest bonus paid after the Change in Control Agreement was entered into (such bonus payment for each Key Employee prorated for the portion of the fiscal year preceding the termination date);
	—	a payment equal to 2.5 times (in the case of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer), 2 times (in the case of the Senior Vice Presidents) or 1.5 times (in the case of the General Counsel) of the sum of (i) the highest annual salary in effect for such Key Employee and (ii) the average of the three annual bonuses earned by the Key Employee for the three fiscal years preceding the termination date and
	—	continued coverage under the Company’s welfare plans for up to three years (in the case of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer) or two years (in the case of the Senior Vice Presidents and General Counsel).
	Other than with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, each Change in Control Agreement provides the Key Employee with a full gross-up payment for any excise taxes imposed on payments and benefits received under the Change in Control Agreements or otherwise, including other taxes that may be imposed as a result of the gross-up payment.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	9. Stockholders’ Equity
	Cash Dividends – The Company paid cash dividends during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as follows:
		Per Share		Total
				(in thousands)
	2012:00:00
	Paid on March 30, 2012	$	0.05	$	7,788
	Paid on June 29, 2012		0.05		7,650
	Paid on September 28, 2012		0.05		7,518
	Paid on December 28, 2012		0.05		7,346
	Total cash dividends	$	0.2	$	30,302
	2013:00:00
	Paid on March 29, 2013	$	0.05	$	7,312
	Paid on June 28, 2013		0.05		7,361
	Paid on September 30, 2013		0.05		7,231
	Paid on December 31, 2013		0.05		7,208
	Total cash dividends	$	0.2	$	29,112
	2014:00:00
	Paid on March 27, 2014	$	0.1	$	14,456
	Paid on June 26, 2014		0.1		14,562
	Paid on September 24, 2014		0.1		14,634
	Paid on December 24, 2014		0.1		14,636
	Total cash dividends	$	0.4	$	58,288
	On February 4, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a cash dividend on its common stock in the amount of $0.10 per share to be paid on March 25, 2015 to holders of record as of March 11, 2015. The amount and timing of all future dividend payments, if any, are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial condition, terms of the Company’s credit facilities and other factors.
	On August 1, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock buyback program authorizing purchases of up to $250 million of the Company’s common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. On July 25, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated the remaining authority under the 2007 stock buyback program, and approved a new stock buyback program authorizing purchases of up to $150 million of common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. On September 6, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated any remaining authority under the 2012 stock buyback program, and approved a new stock buyback program that authorizes purchase of up to $200 million of the Company’s common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had remaining authorization to purchase approximately $187 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock under the new stock buyback program. Shares purchased under a buyback program are accounted for as treasury stock.
	The Company acquired shares of stock from employees during 2014, 2013 and 2012 that are accounted for as treasury stock. Certain of these shares were acquired to satisfy the exercise price in connection with the exercise of stock options by employees. The remainder of these shares was acquired to satisfy payroll tax withholding obligations upon the exercise of stock options, the settlement of performance unit awards and the vesting of restricted stock. These shares were acquired at fair market value. These acquisitions were made pursuant to the terms of the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) or the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and not pursuant to the stock buyback programs.
	Treasury stock acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
		2014				2013				2012
		Shares		Cost		Shares		Cost		Shares		Cost
	Treasury shares at beginning of period		42,268,057	$	880,888		38,146,738	$	795,051		27,487,571	$	624,759
	Purchases pursuant to stock buyback programs:
	2007 program		—		—		—		—		4,708,784		70,092
	2012 program		—		—		2,567,266		51,107		5,863,451		98,892
	2013 program		13,898		466		602,564		12,517		—		—
	Acquisitions pursuant to long-term incentive plans		536,630		17,681		951,489		22,213		86,932		1,308
	Treasury shares at end of period		42,818,585	$	899,035		42,268,057	$	880,888		38,146,738	$	795,051

Stockbased_Compensation

Stock-based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Stock-based Compensation	10. Stock-based Compensation
	The Company uses share-based payments to compensate employees and non-employee directors. The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments under the fair-value-based method. Share-based awards consist of equity instruments in the form of stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units and have included service and, in certain cases, performance conditions. The Company’s share-based awards have also included both cash-settled and share-settled performance unit awards. Cash-settled performance unit awards are accounted for as liability awards. Share-settled performance unit awards are accounted for as equity awards. The Company issues shares of common stock when vested stock options are exercised, when restricted stock is granted and when restricted stock units and share-settled performance unit awards vest.
	The Company’s shareholders have approved the 2014 Plan, and the Board of Directors adopted a resolution that no future grants would be made under any of the Company’s other previously existing plans. The Company’s share-based compensation plans at December 31, 2014 follow:
			Shares			Shares Underlying			Shares
			Authorized			Awards			Available
	Plan Name		for Grant			Outstanding			for Grant
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan			9,100,000			1,242,600			6,478,876
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended			—			6,070,794			—
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (“1997 Plan”)			—			300,000			—
	A summary of the 2014 Plan follows:
	·	The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the plan other than the awards to directors.
	·	All employees, officers and directors are eligible for awards.
	·	The Compensation Committee determines the vesting schedule for awards. Awards typically vest over one year for non-employee directors and three years for employees.
	·	The Compensation Committee sets the term of awards and no option term can exceed 10 years.
	·	All options granted under the plan are granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the time the option is granted.
	·	The plan provides for awards of incentive stock options, non-incentive stock options, tandem and freestanding stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, other stock unit awards, performance share awards, performance unit awards and dividend equivalents.  As of December 31, 2014, non-incentive stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance unit awards had been granted under the plan.
	Options granted under the 2005 Plan typically vested over one year for non-employee directors and three years for employees. All options were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the related common stock at the time of grant. Restricted stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan typically vested over one year for non-employee directors and three years for employees.
	Options granted under the 1997 Plan typically vested over three or five years as dictated by the Compensation Committee. These options have terms of no more than ten years. All options were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the related common stock at the time of grant. Restricted stock awards granted under the 1997 Plan typically vested over four years.
	Stock Options—The Company estimates the grant date fair values of stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. Volatility assumptions are based on the historic volatility of the Company’s common stock over the most recent period equal to the expected term of the options as of the date the options are granted. The expected term assumptions are based on the Company’s experience with respect to employee stock option activity. Dividend yield assumptions are based on the expected dividends at the time the options are granted. The risk-free interest rate assumptions are determined by reference to United States Treasury yields. Weighted-average assumptions used to estimate grant date fair values for stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 follow:
			2014			2013			2012
	Volatility			35.89	%		41.36	%		48.79	%
	Expected term (in years)			5			5			5
	Dividend yield			1.17	%		0.89	%		1.21	%
	Risk-free interest rate			1.76	%		0.7	%		0.87	%
	Stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
						Weighted-average
			Shares			exercise price
	Outstanding at beginning of year			7,319,695		$	21.23
	Granted			491,750		$	32.32
	Exercised			(1,725,195	)	$	20.54
	Cancelled			—		$	—
	Expired			—			—
	Outstanding at end of year			6,086,250		$	22.32
	Exercisable at end of year			5,224,223		$	21.45
	During 2014, the Company acquired 190,919 shares of treasury stock from employees upon the exercise of stock options. Shares having a market value of $4.6 million were withheld from employees and added to treasury stock to satisfy the exercise price in connection with the exercise of the stock options. Shares having a market value of $1.6 million were withheld from employees and added to treasury stock to satisfy payroll tax withholding obligations upon the exercise of the stock options.
	Options outstanding at December 31, 2014 have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $4.3 million and a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 4.92 years. Options exercisable at December 31, 2014 have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $4.2 million and a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 4.28 years. Additional information with respect to options granted, vested and exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 follows:
			2014			2013			2012
	Weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted (per share)		$	9.81		$	7.59		$	6.37
	Aggregate grant date fair value of stock options vested during the year (in thousands)		$	5,173		$	5,240		$	5,512
	Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised (in thousands)		$	21,862		$	8,683		$	138
	As of December 31, 2014, options to purchase 862,000 shares were outstanding and not vested.  All of these non-vested options are expected to ultimately vest. Additional information as of December 31, 2014 with respect to these non-vested options follows:
	Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)		$	33
	Weighted-average remaining contractual term		8.77 years
	Weighted-average remaining expected term		3.77 years
	Weighted-average remaining vesting period		1.63 years
	Unrecognized compensation cost		$6.0 million
	Restricted Stock—For all restricted stock awards to date, shares of common stock were issued when the awards were made. Non-vested shares are subject to forfeiture for failure to fulfill service conditions and, in certain cases, performance conditions. Non-forfeitable dividends are paid on non-vested shares of restricted stock. The Company uses the straight-line method to recognize periodic compensation cost over the vesting period.
	Restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
						Weighted-
						average Grant
			Shares			Date Fair Value
	Non-vested restricted stock outstanding at beginning of year			1,496,692		$	20.84
	Granted			813,150		$	33.07
	Vested			(755,564	)	$	21.67
	Forfeited			(61,219	)	$	24.66
	Non-vested restricted stock outstanding at end of year			1,493,059		$	26.93
	As of December 31, 2014, approximately 1.4 million shares of non-vested restricted stock outstanding are expected to vest. Additional information as of December 31, 2014 with respect to these non-vested shares follows:
	Aggregate intrinsic value		$23.2 million
	Weighted-average remaining vesting period		1.83 years
	Unrecognized compensation cost		$29.0 million
	Restricted Stock Units—For all restricted stock unit awards made to date, shares of common stock are not issued until the units vest. Restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture for failure to fulfill service conditions. Non-forfeitable cash dividend equivalents are paid on certain non-vested restricted stock units. The Company uses the straight-line method to recognize periodic compensation cost over the vesting period.
	Restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
						Weighted-average
						Grant Date Fair
		Shares			Value
Non-vested restricted stock units outstanding at beginning of year			20,256		$	20.67
Granted			24,250		$	34.66
Vested			(9,754	)	$	22.13
Forfeited			(667	)	$	21.09
Non-vested restricted stock units outstanding at end of year			34,085		$	30.2
Performance Unit Awards.  In 2009, the Company granted cash-settled performance unit awards to certain executive officers (the “2009 Performance Units”). The 2009 Performance Units provided for those executive officers to receive a cash payment upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee during a specified period. The performance period for the 2009 Performance Units was the period from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2012. The performance goals for the 2009 Performance Units were tied to the Company’s total shareholder return for the performance period as compared to total shareholder return for a peer group determined by the Compensation Committee. These goals were considered to be market conditions under the relevant accounting standards and the market conditions were factored into the determination of the fair value of the performance units. Generally, the recipients would receive a target payment if the Company’s total shareholder return was positive and, when compared to the peer group, was at or above the 50th percentile but less than the 75th percentile and two times the target if at the 75th percentile or higher. If the Company’s total shareholder return was positive, and, when compared to the peer group, was at or above the 25th percentile but less than the 50th percentile, the recipients would only receive one-half of the target payment. The total target amount with respect to the 2009 Performance Units was approximately $3.4 million. Because the 2009 Performance Units were settled in cash at the end of the performance period, they were accounted for as liability awards and the Company’s pro-rated obligation was measured at estimated fair value at the end of each reporting period using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The performance period ended on March 31, 2012 and the Company’s total shareholder return was at the 46th percentile. The resulting cash payments totaling $1.7 million were paid in April 2012.  For the year ended December 31, 2012, a compensation benefit of approximately $1.9 million was recognized.
In 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 the Company granted stock-settled performance unit awards to certain executive officers (the “Stock-Settled Performance Units”). The Stock-Settled Performance Units provide for the recipients to receive a grant of shares of stock upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee during a specified period. The performance period for the Stock-Settled Performance Units is the three year period commencing on April 1 of the year of grant. For the 2012 and 2013 Stock-Settled Performance Units, the performance period can extend for an additional two years in certain circumstances. The performance goals for the Stock-Settled Performance Units are tied to the Company’s total shareholder return for the performance period as compared to total shareholder return for a peer group determined by the Compensation Committee. These goals are considered to be market conditions under the relevant accounting standards and the market conditions were factored into the determination of the fair value of the respective performance units. Generally, the recipients will receive a target number of shares if the Company’s total shareholder return is positive and, when compared to the peer group, is at the 50th percentile and two times the target if at the 75th percentile or higher. If the Company’s total shareholder return is positive, and, when compared to the peer group, is at the 25th percentile, the recipients will only receive one-half of the target number of shares. The grant of shares when achievement is between the 25th and 75th percentile will be determined on a pro-rata basis. The performance period for the 2010 Stock-Settled Performance Units ended on March 31, 2013, and the Company’s total shareholder return was at the 93rd percentile.  In April 2013, 357,500 shares were issued to settle the 2010 Stock-Settled Performance Units. The performance period for the 2011 Stock-Settled Performance Units ended on March 31, 2014, and the Company’s total shareholder return was at the 94th percentile.  In April 2014, 288,750 shares were issued to settle the 2011 Stock-Settled Performance Units. The total target number of shares with respect to the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below:
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
Target number of shares			154,000			236,500			192,000			144,375		178,750
Because the Stock-Settled Performance Units are stock-settled awards, they are accounted for as equity awards and measured at fair value on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value of the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
Aggregate fair value at date of grant		$	5,388		$	5,564		$	3,065		$	5,569	$	3,117
These fair value amounts are charged to expense on a straight-line basis over the performance period. Compensation expense associated with the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
Year ended December 31, 2014		$	1,347		$	1,855		$	1,022		$	464	NA
Year ended December 31, 2013		NA			$	1,391		$	1,022		$	1,856	$	260
Year ended December 31, 2012		NA			NA			$	766		$	1,856	$	1,039
Dividends on Equity Awards – Non-forfeitable cash dividends are paid on restricted stock awards and dividend equivalents are paid on certain restricted stock units. These payments are recognized as follows:
·	Dividends are recognized as reductions of retained earnings for the portion of restricted stock awards expected to vest.
·	Dividends are recognized as additional compensation cost for the portion of restricted stock awards that are not expected to vest or that ultimately do not vest.
·	Dividend equivalents are recognized as additional compensation cost for restricted stock units.

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	11. Leases
	The Company incurred rent expense of $51.9 million, $47.4 million and $39.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Rent expense is primarily related to short-term equipment rentals that are generally passed through to customers.
	Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	14,554
	2016		8,838
	2017		3,431
	2018		2,638
	2019		1,834
	Thereafter		3,587
	Total	$	34,882

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	12. Income Taxes
	Components of the income tax provision applicable to federal, state and foreign income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Federal income tax expense (benefit):
	Current	$	39,438		$	41,558		$	(512	)
	Deferred		39,673			47,136			156,003
			79,111			88,694			155,491
	State income tax expense:
	Current		3,987			11,733			12,455
	Deferred		5,292			4,229			5,483
			9,279			15,962			17,938
	Foreign income tax expense (benefit):
	Current		4,521			4,572			3,817
	Deferred		(1,292	)		(796	)		(1,050	)
			3,229			3,776			2,767
	Total income tax expense:
	Current		47,946			57,863			15,760
	Deferred		43,673			50,569			160,436
	Total income tax expense:	$	91,619		$	108,432		$	176,196
	The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is summarized as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State income taxes		2.5			3.7			2.5
	Permanent differences		(1.4	)		(1.5	)		(0.2	)
	Other, net		(0.1	)		(0.6	)		(0.3	)
	Effective tax rate		36	%		36.6	%		37	%
	The Domestic Production Activities Deduction was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (as revised by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008) and allows a deduction of 9% in 2010 and thereafter on the lesser of qualified production activities income or taxable income. The permanent difference for 2012 does not include any deduction as it is limited to taxable income and the Company did not have taxable income in 2012 due to the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards. The permanent differences for 2013 include a deduction of $10.0 million as the Company fully utilized its remaining net operating loss carryforwards. The permanent difference for 2014 includes a deduction of $8.8 million.
	The tax effect of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes therein were as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,			Net			December 31,			Net			December 31,			Net			December 31,
		2014			Change			2013			Change			2012			Change			2011
	Deferred tax assets:
	Current:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	—		$	(—	)	$	—		$	(18,914	)	$	18,914		$	(95,662	)	$	114,576
	Workers’ compensation allowance		28,310			698			27,612			2,534			25,078			1,074			24,004
	Other		22,396			2,749			19,647			(804	)		20,451			1,651			18,800
			50,706			3,447			47,259			(17,184	)		64,443			(92,937	)		157,380
	Non-current:
	Net operating loss carryforwards		12,464			(988	)		13,452			1,690			11,762			(6,672	)		18,434
	Expense associated with employee stock options		14,386			(1,822	)		16,208			1,536			14,672			1,944			12,728
	Federal benefit of state deferred tax liabilities		24,019			1,181			22,838			816			22,022			1,762			20,260
	Other		16,047			1,344			14,703			(421	)		15,124			4,454			10,670
			66,916			(285	)		67,201			3,621			63,580			1,488			62,092
	Total deferred tax assets		117,622			3,162			114,460			(13,563	)		128,023			(91,449	)		219,472
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Current:
	Other		(13,631	)		676			(14,307	)		(2,823	)		(11,484	)		3,171			(14,655	)
	Non-current:
	Property and equipment basis difference		(986,953	)		(47,359	)		(939,594	)		(33,997	)		(905,597	)		(69,774	)		(835,823	)
	Other		(15,623	)		(152	)		(15,471	)		(186	)		(15,285	)		(2,384	)		(12,901	)
			(1,002,576	)		(47,511	)		(955,065	)		(34,183	)		(920,882	)		(72,158	)		(848,724	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(1,016,207	)		(46,835	)		(969,372	)		(37,006	)		(932,366	)		(68,987	)		(863,379	)
	Net deferred tax liability	$	(898,585	)	$	(43,673	)	$	(854,912	)	$	(50,569	)	$	(804,343	)	$	(160,436	)	$	(643,907	)
	In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The Company expects the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013 to be realized as a result of the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences giving rise to deferred tax liabilities and the generation of taxable income; therefore, no valuation allowance is considered necessary.
	Other deferred tax assets consist primarily of the tax effect of various allowance accounts and tax-deferred expenses expected to generate future tax benefits of approximately $38.4 million. Other deferred tax liabilities consist primarily of the tax effect of receivables from insurance companies and tax-deferred income not yet recognized for tax purposes.
	For income tax purposes, the Company has approximately $164 million of state net operating losses that can be carried forward as of December 31, 2014. The state net operating losses that can be carried forward, if unused, are scheduled to expire as follows: 2016—$6.8 million; 2025—$630,000; 2026—$16.9 million: 2029—$31.9 million; 2030—$25.7 million; 2031—$82.5 million.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. The Company has established a policy to account for interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions as operating expenses. As of December 31, 2014, the tax years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2013 are open for examination by U.S. taxing authorities. As of December 31, 2014, the tax years ended December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2013 are open for examination by Canadian taxing authorities.
	On January 1, 2010, the Company converted its Canadian operations from a Canadian branch to a controlled foreign corporation for federal income tax purposes. Because the statutory tax rates in Canada are lower than those in the United States, this transaction triggered a $5.1 million reduction in deferred tax liabilities, which is being amortized as a reduction to deferred income tax expense over the weighted average remaining useful life of the Canadian assets.
	As a result of the above conversion, the Company’s Canadian assets are no longer directly subject to United States taxation, provided that the related unremitted earnings are permanently reinvested in Canada. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company has elected to permanently reinvest these unremitted earnings in Canada, and intends to do so for the foreseeable future. As a result, no deferred United States federal or state income taxes have been provided on such unremitted foreign earnings, which totaled approximately $47.5 million as of December 31, 2014. The unrecognized deferred tax liability associated with these earnings was approximately $7.2 million, net of available foreign tax credits. This liability would be recognized if the Company received a dividend of the unremitted earnings.

Employee_Benefits

Employee Benefits	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefits	13. Employee Benefits
	The Company maintains a 401(k) plan for all eligible employees. The Company’s operating results include expenses of approximately $7.2 million in 2014, $6.2 million in 2013 and $5.4 million in 2012 for the Company’s contributions to the plan.

Business_Segments

Business Segments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segments	14. Business Segments
	The Company’s revenues, operating profits and identifiable assets are primarily attributable to three business segments: (i) contract drilling of oil and natural gas wells, (ii) pressure pumping services and (iii) the investment, on a non-operating working interest basis, in oil and natural gas properties. Each of these segments represents a distinct type of business. These segments have separate management teams which report to the Company’s chief operating decision maker. The results of operations in these segments are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker for purposes of determining resource allocation and assessing performance.
	Contract Drilling — The Company markets its contract drilling services to major and independent oil and natural gas operators. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had 239 land-based drilling rigs in the continental United States, and western and northern Canada.
	For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and, 2012, contract drilling revenue earned in Canada was $87.5 million, $86.6 million and $79.4 million, respectively. Additionally, long-lived assets within the contract drilling segment located in Canada totaled $57.6 million and $69.1 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Pressure Pumping — The Company provides pressure pumping services to oil and natural gas operators primarily in Texas and the Appalachian region. Pressure pumping services are primarily well stimulation services (such as hydraulic fracturing) and cementing services for the completion of new wells and remedial work on existing wells. Well stimulation involves processes inside a well designed to enhance the flow of oil, natural gas, or other desired substances from the well. Cementing is the process of inserting material between the hole and the pipe to center and stabilize the pipe in the hole.
	Oil and Natural Gas — The Company owns and invests in oil and natural gas assets as a non-operating working interest owner. The Company’s oil and natural gas interests are located primarily in Texas and New Mexico.
	Major Customer — No single customer accounted for 10% or more of consolidated operating revenue in 2014. During 2013, one customer accounted for approximately $286 million or 10.5% of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues. These revenues were earned in both the Company’s contract drilling and pressure pumping businesses. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of consolidated operating revenues in 2012.
	The following tables summarize selected financial information relating to the Company’s business segments (in thousands):
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Revenues:
	Contract drilling		$	1,843,707		$	1,684,878		$	1,826,519
	Pressure pumping			1,294,569			979,166			841,771
	Oil and natural gas			50,196			57,257			59,930
	Total segment revenues			3,188,472			2,721,301			2,728,220
	Elimination of intercompany revenues(a)			(6,181	)		(5,267	)		(4,806	)
	Total revenues		$	3,182,291		$	2,716,034		$	2,723,414
	Income before income taxes:
	Contract drilling		$	241,851		$	266,262		$	349,393
	Pressure pumping			89,081			87,244			132,795
	Oil and natural gas			(5,482	)		19,948			27,210
				325,450			373,454			509,398
	Corporate and other			(58,105	)		(54,647	)		(45,843	)
	Net gain on asset disposals(b)			15,781			3,384			33,806
	Interest income			979			918			554
	Interest expense			(29,825	)		(28,359	)		(22,750	)
	Other			3			1,691			508
	Income before income taxes		$	254,283		$	296,441		$	475,673
	Identifiable assets:
	Contract drilling		$	4,000,576		$	3,569,588		$	3,538,289
	Pressure pumping			1,186,010			761,199			784,128
	Oil and natural gas			50,945			58,656			54,188
	Corporate and other(c)			156,480			297,684			180,306
	Total assets		$	5,394,011		$	4,687,127		$	4,556,911
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment:
	Contract drilling		$	524,023		$	438,728		$	390,316
	Pressure pumping			147,595			129,984			111,062
	Oil and natural gas			42,576			24,400			21,417
	Corporate and other			4,536			4,357			3,819
	Total depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment		$	718,730		$	597,469		$	526,614
	Capital expenditures:
	Contract drilling		$	771,593		$	504,508		$	744,949
	Pressure pumping			241,359			122,782			194,117
	Oil and natural gas			36,683			31,245			29,888
	Corporate and other			2,706			3,926			5,034
	Total capital expenditures		$	1,052,341		$	662,461		$	973,988
	(a)	Consists of contract drilling and, in 2014, pressure pumping intercompany revenues for services provided to the oil and natural gas exploration and production segment.
	(b)	Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.
	(c)	Corporate and other assets primarily include cash on hand, income tax receivables and certain deferred tax assets.

Concentrations_of_Credit_Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]
Concentrations of Credit Risk	15. Concentrations of Credit Risk
	Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of demand deposits, temporary cash investments and trade receivables.
	The Company believes it has placed its demand deposits and temporary cash investments with high credit-quality financial institutions. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s demand deposits and temporary cash investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions under insurance limits	$	636		$	369
	Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions over insurance limits		1,420			269,314
	Deposits in foreign banks		43,664			20,921
			45,720			290,604
	Less outstanding checks and other reconciling items		(2,708	)		(41,095	)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	43,012		$	249,509
	Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are primarily focused on companies involved in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties. The concentration is somewhat mitigated by the diversification of customers for which the Company provides services.  As is general industry practice, the Company typically does not require customers to provide collateral.  No significant losses from individual customers were experienced during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 or 2012.  No provision for bad debts was recognized in 2014 or in 2013.  The Company recognized $1.1 million provision for bad debts in 2012.

Fair_Values_of_Financial_Instr

Fair Values of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Values of Financial Instruments	16. Fair Values of Financial Instruments
	The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these items. These fair value estimates are considered Level 1 fair value estimates in the fair value hierarchy of fair value accounting.
	The estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt balances (including current portion) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is set forth below (in thousands):
		31-Dec-14				31-Dec-13
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
	Borrowings under Credit Agreements:
	Revolving credit facility	$	303,000	$	303,000	$	—	$	—
	Term loan facility		82,500		82,500		92,500		92,500
	4.97% Series A Senior Notes		300,000		288,346		300,000		304,293
	4.27% Series B Senior Notes		300,000		269,173		300,000		286,772
	Total debt	$	985,500	$	943,019	$	692,500	$	683,565
	The carrying values of the balances outstanding under the revolving credit facility and the term loan facility approximate their fair values as these instruments have floating interest rates. The fair values of the Series A Notes and Series B Notes at December 31, 2014 and 2013 are based on discounted cash flows associated with the respective notes using current market rates of interest at those respective dates. For the Series A Notes, the current market rates used in measuring this fair value were 5.77% at December 31, 2014 and 4.52% at December 31, 2013. For the Series B Notes, the current market rates used in measuring this fair value were 6.00% at December 31, 2014 and 4.89% at December 31, 2013. These fair value estimates are based on observable market inputs and are considered Level 2 fair value estimates in the fair value hierarchy of fair value accounting.

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio

Quarterly Financial Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Information	17. Quarterly Financial Information (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
		1st		2nd		3rd		4th
		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter
	2013
	Operating revenues	$	667,039	$	659,316	$	730,907	$	658,772
	Operating income		94,932		70,606		124,551		32,102
	Net income		56,230		40,768		74,420		16,591
	Net income per common share:
	Basic	$	0.38	$	0.28	$	0.51	$	0.12
	Diluted	$	0.38	$	0.28	$	0.51	$	0.11
	2014
	Operating revenues	$	678,168	$	757,276	$	845,628	$	901,219
	Operating income		58,776		87,226		30,291		106,833
	Net income		34,822		54,283		15,976		57,583
	Net income per common share:
	Basic	$	0.24	$	0.37	$	0.11	$	0.39
	Diluted	$	0.24	$	0.37	$	0.11	$	0.39

Valuation_And_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
					Charged to
			Beginning		Costs and					Ending
	Description		Balance		Expenses		Deductions(1)			Balance
			(In thousands)
	Year Ended December 31, 2014
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	3,674	$	—	$	(128	)	$	3,546
	Year Ended December 31, 2013
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	3,513	$	—	$	161		$	3,674
	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	Deducted from asset accounts:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	4,887	$	1,100	$	(2,474	)	$	3,513
	-1	Consists of uncollectible accounts (written off) or recovered.

Description_of_Business_and_Su1

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Management Estimates	Management estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue recognition — Revenues from daywork drilling and pressure pumping activities are recognized as services are performed.  Expenditures reimbursed by customers are recognized as revenue and the related expenses are recognized as direct costs.  All of the wells the Company drilled in 2014, 2013 and 2012 were drilled under daywork contracts.
Accounts Receivable	Accounts receivable — Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount.  The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s estimate of the amount of probable credit losses existing in the Company’s accounts receivable.  The Company reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts at least quarterly.  Significant individual accounts receivable balances and balances which have been outstanding greater than 90 days are reviewed individually for collectability.  Account balances, when determined to be uncollectable, are charged against the allowance.
Inventories	Inventories — Inventories consist primarily of sand and other products to be used in conjunction with the Company’s pressure pumping activities.  The inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined under the average cost method.
Property and Equipment	Property and equipment — Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.  The method of depreciation does not change whenever equipment becomes idle.  The estimated useful lives, in years, are shown below:
		Useful Lives
	Drilling rigs and other equipment	1.25-15
	Buildings	15-20
	Other	12-Mar
	Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are evaluated for impairment when certain triggering events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable over their estimated remaining useful life.
Oil and Natural Gas Properties	Oil and natural gas properties — Working interests in oil and natural gas properties are accounted for using the successful efforts method of accounting.  Under the successful efforts method of accounting, exploration costs which result in the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves and all development costs are capitalized to the appropriate well.  Exploration costs which do not result in discovering oil and natural gas reserves are charged to expense when such determination is made.  Costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized to wells-in-progress until the outcome of the drilling is known.  The Company reviews wells-in-progress quarterly to determine whether sufficient progress is being made in assessing the reserves and economic viability of the respective projects.  If no progress has been made in assessing the reserves and economic viability of a project after one year following the completion of drilling, the Company considers the well costs to be impaired and recognizes the costs as expense.  Geological and geophysical costs, including seismic costs, and costs to carry and retain undeveloped properties are charged to expense when incurred.  The capitalized costs of both developmental and successful exploratory type wells, consisting of lease and well equipment and intangible development costs, are depreciated, depleted and amortized using the units-of-production method, based on engineering estimates of total proved developed oil and natural gas reserves for each respective field.  Oil and natural gas leasehold acquisition costs are depreciated, depleted and amortized using the units-of-production method, based on engineering estimates of total proved oil and natural gas reserves for each respective field.
	The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever a triggering event occurs, such as downward revisions in reserve estimates or decreases in expected future oil and natural gas prices.  Proved properties are grouped by field and undiscounted cash flow estimates are prepared based on management’s expectation of future pricing over the lives of the respective fields.  These cash flow estimates are reviewed by an independent petroleum engineer.  If the net book value of a field exceeds its undiscounted cash flow estimate, impairment expense is measured and recognized as the difference between net book value and fair value.  The fair value estimates used in measuring impairment are based on internally developed unobservable inputs including reserve volumes and future production, pricing and operating costs (level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy of fair value accounting).  The expected future net cash flows are discounted using an annual rate of 10% to determine fair value.  The Company reviews unproved oil and natural gas properties quarterly to assess potential impairment.  The Company’s impairment assessment is made on a lease-by-lease basis and considers factors such as management’s intent to drill, lease terms and abandonment of an area.  If an unproved property is determined to be impaired, the related property costs are expensed.
Goodwill	Goodwill — Goodwill is considered to have an indefinite useful economic life and is not amortized.  The Company assesses impairment of its goodwill at least annually as of December 31, or on an interim basis if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of goodwill may have decreased below its carrying value.
Maintenance and Repairs	Maintenance and repairs — Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred.  Renewals and betterments which extend the life or improve existing property and equipment are capitalized.
Disposals	Disposals — Upon disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations.
Net Income Per Common Share	Net income per common share — The Company provides a dual presentation of its net income per common share in its consolidated statements of operations: Basic net income per common share (“Basic EPS”) and diluted net income per common share (“Diluted EPS”).
	Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by first allocating earnings between common stockholders and holders of non-vested shares of restricted stock.  Basic EPS is then determined by dividing the earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock.
	Diluted EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of potential common shares, including stock options, non-vested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units.  The dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units is determined using the treasury stock method.  The dilutive effect of non-vested shares of restricted stock is based on the more dilutive of the treasury stock method or the two-class method, assuming a reallocation of undistributed earnings to common stockholders after considering the dilutive effect of potential common shares other than non-vested shares of restricted stock.
	The following table presents information necessary to calculate income from continuing operations per share and net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, as well as potentially dilutive securities excluded from the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014			2013			2012
	BASIC EPS:
	Net income	$	162,664		$	188,009		$	299,477
	Adjust for income attributed to holders of non-vested restricted stock		(1,663	)		(1,859	)		(2,532	)
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Basic net income per common share	$	1.12		$	1.29		$	1.96
	DILUTED EPS:
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Add dilutive effect of potential common shares		1,310			947			555
	Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		145,376			145,303			151,699
	Diluted income per common share	$	1.11		$	1.28		$	1.96
	Potentially dilutive securities excluded as anti-dilutive		1,088			2,447			5,416
Income Taxes	Income taxes — The asset and liability method is used in accounting for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.  If applicable, a valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.  The Company’s policy is to account for interest and penalties with respect to income taxes as operating expenses.
Stock-based Compensation	Stock-based compensation — The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments under the fair-value-based method.  Under this method, compensation cost related to share-based payments is measured based on the estimated fair value of the awards at the date of grant, net of estimated forfeitures.  This expense is recognized over the expected life of the awards (See Note 10).
Statement of Cash Flows	Statement of cash flows — For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit and money market funds.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standards update to provide guidance on the recognition of revenue from customers.  Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services.  This guidance also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty, if any, of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.  The requirements in this update are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to provide guidance on the accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period.  The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period is treated as a
	performance condition.  The requirements in this update are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Description_of_Business_and_Su2

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment	The estimated useful lives, in years, are shown below:
		Useful Lives
	Drilling rigs and other equipment	1.25-15
	Buildings	15-20
	Other	12-Mar
Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share	The following table presents information necessary to calculate income from continuing operations per share and net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, as well as potentially dilutive securities excluded from the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014			2013			2012
	BASIC EPS:
	Net income	$	162,664		$	188,009		$	299,477
	Adjust for income attributed to holders of non-vested restricted stock		(1,663	)		(1,859	)		(2,532	)
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Basic net income per common share	$	1.12		$	1.29		$	1.96
	DILUTED EPS:
	Income attributed to common stockholders	$	161,001		$	186,150		$	296,945
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock		144,066			144,356			151,144
	Add dilutive effect of potential common shares		1,310			947			555
	Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		145,376			145,303			151,699
	Diluted income per common share	$	1.11		$	1.28		$	1.96
	Potentially dilutive securities excluded as anti-dilutive		1,088			2,447			5,416

Acquisitions_Tables

Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Summary of the Purchase Price Allocation	A summary of the purchase price allocation follows (in thousands):
	Inventory	$	1,357
	Equipment		117,958
	Goodwill		56,986
	Total purchase price	$	176,301
Business Acquisition Pro-forma Unaudited Financial Information	The following represents pro-forma unaudited financial information for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 as if the acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		2014		2013
		(Unaudited)
	Revenue	$	3,302,492	$	2,854,867
	Net income	$	169,831	$	196,600
	Basic net income per common share	$	1.17	$	1.35
	Diluted net income per common share	$	1.16	$	1.34

Property_and_Equipment_Tables

Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Equipment	$	6,679,894		$	5,749,975
	Oil and natural gas properties		196,234			183,571
	Buildings		83,465			80,050
	Land		12,038			12,054
			6,971,631			6,025,650
	Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment		(2,840,560	)		(2,390,109	)
	Property and equipment, net	$	4,131,071		$	3,635,541
Summary of Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Impairment Expense related to Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets	Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment — The following table summarizes depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense related to property and equipment and intangible assets for 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Depreciation and impairment expense	$	693,390		$	573,106		$	502,953
	Amortization expense		3,643			3,993			4,110
	Depletion expense		21,697			20,370			19,551
	Total	$	718,730		$	597,469		$	526,614

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill by Operating Segment	Goodwill — Goodwill by operating segment as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and changes for the years then ended are as follows (in thousands):
		Contract		Pressure
		Drilling		Pumping			Total
	Balance December 31, 2012	$	86,234	$	67,575		$	153,809
	Changes to goodwill	—		—				-
	Balance December 31, 2013		86,234		67,575			153,809
	Changes to goodwill	—			56,986			56,986
	Balance December 31, 2014	$	86,234	$	124,561		$	210,795
Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Customer Relationships	The following table presents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the customer relationships as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014							2013
		Gross Carrying		Accumulated			Net Carrying		Gross Carrying		Accumulated			Net Carrying
		Amount		Amortization			Amount		Amount		Amortization			Amount
	Customer relationships	$	25,500	$	(15,482	)	$	10,018	$	25,500	$	(11,839	)	$	13,661

Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	Accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Salaries, wages, payroll taxes and benefits	$	52,956	$	45,836
	Workers’ compensation liability		77,348		74,975
	Property, sales, use and other taxes		11,644		12,367
	Insurance, other than workers’ compensation		9,632		10,129
	Accrued interest payable		7,427		7,604
	Other		14,459		9,546
		$	173,466	$	160,457

Asset_Retirement_Obligation_Ta

Asset Retirement Obligation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Changes to Company's Asset Retirement Obligations	The following table describes the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligations during 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of year	$	4,837		$	4,422
	Liabilities incurred		473			375
	Liabilities settled		(197	)		(126	)
	Accretion expense		169			166
	Revision in estimated costs of plugging oil and natural gas wells		19			—
	Asset retirement obligation at end of year	$	5,301		$	4,837

Long_Term_Debt_Tables

Long Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Principal Repayment Requirements of Long Term Debt	Presented below is a schedule of the principal repayment requirements of long-term debt by fiscal year as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	12,500
	2016		28,750
	2017		344,250
	2018		—
	2019		—
	Thereafter		600,000
	Total	$	985,500

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Cash Dividends	Cash Dividends – The Company paid cash dividends during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as follows:
		Per Share		Total
				(in thousands)
	2012:00:00
	Paid on March 30, 2012	$	0.05	$	7,788
	Paid on June 29, 2012		0.05		7,650
	Paid on September 28, 2012		0.05		7,518
	Paid on December 28, 2012		0.05		7,346
	Total cash dividends	$	0.2	$	30,302
	2013:00:00
	Paid on March 29, 2013	$	0.05	$	7,312
	Paid on June 28, 2013		0.05		7,361
	Paid on September 30, 2013		0.05		7,231
	Paid on December 31, 2013		0.05		7,208
	Total cash dividends	$	0.2	$	29,112
	2014:00:00
	Paid on March 27, 2014	$	0.1	$	14,456
	Paid on June 26, 2014		0.1		14,562
	Paid on September 24, 2014		0.1		14,634
	Paid on December 24, 2014		0.1		14,636
	Total cash dividends	$	0.4	$	58,288
Treasury Stock Acquisition	Treasury stock acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
		2014				2013				2012
		Shares		Cost		Shares		Cost		Shares		Cost
	Treasury shares at beginning of period		42,268,057	$	880,888		38,146,738	$	795,051		27,487,571	$	624,759
	Purchases pursuant to stock buyback programs:
	2007 program		—		—		—		—		4,708,784		70,092
	2012 program		—		—		2,567,266		51,107		5,863,451		98,892
	2013 program		13,898		466		602,564		12,517		—		—
	Acquisitions pursuant to long-term incentive plans		536,630		17,681		951,489		22,213		86,932		1,308
	Treasury shares at end of period		42,818,585	$	899,035		42,268,057	$	880,888		38,146,738	$	795,051

Stockbased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Plans	The Company’s share-based compensation plans at December 31, 2014 follow:
		Shares			Shares Underlying			Shares
		Authorized			Awards			Available
	Plan Name	for Grant			Outstanding			for Grant
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan		9,100,000			1,242,600			6,478,876
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended		—			6,070,794			—
	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (“1997 Plan”)		—			300,000			—
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Estimate Grant Date Fair Values for Stock Options Granted	Weighted-average assumptions used to estimate grant date fair values for stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 follow:
		2014			2013			2012
	Volatility		35.89	%		41.36	%		48.79	%
	Expected term (in years)		5			5			5
	Dividend yield		1.17	%		0.89	%		1.21	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.76	%		0.7	%		0.87	%
Stock Option Activity	Stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
					Weighted-average
		Shares			exercise price
	Outstanding at beginning of year		7,319,695		$	21.23
	Granted		491,750		$	32.32
	Exercised		(1,725,195	)	$	20.54
	Cancelled		—		$	—
	Expired		—			—
	Outstanding at end of year		6,086,250		$	22.32
	Exercisable at end of year		5,224,223		$	21.45
Additional Information with Respect to Options Granted, Vested and Exercised	Additional information with respect to options granted, vested and exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted (per share)	$	9.81		$	7.59		$	6.37
	Aggregate grant date fair value of stock options vested during the year (in thousands)	$	5,173		$	5,240		$	5,512
	Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised (in thousands)	$	21,862		$	8,683		$	138
Restricted Stock Activity	Restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
					Weighted-
					average Grant
		Shares			Date Fair Value
	Non-vested restricted stock outstanding at beginning of year		1,496,692		$	20.84
	Granted		813,150		$	33.07
	Vested		(755,564	)	$	21.67
	Forfeited		(61,219	)	$	24.66
	Non-vested restricted stock outstanding at end of year		1,493,059		$	26.93
Restricted Stock Unit Activity	Restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 follows:
					Weighted-average
					Grant Date Fair
		Shares			Value
	Non-vested restricted stock units outstanding at beginning of year		20,256		$	20.67
	Granted		24,250		$	34.66
	Vested		(9,754	)	$	22.13
	Forfeited		(667	)	$	21.09
	Non-vested restricted stock units outstanding at end of year		34,085		$	30.2
Stock-Settled Performance Units	The total target number of shares with respect to the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below:
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
	Target number of shares		154,000			236,500			192,000			144,375		178,750
Fair Value of Stock-Settled Performance Units	The fair value of the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
	Aggregate fair value at date of grant	$	5,388		$	5,564		$	3,065		$	5,569	$	3,117
Compensation Expense Associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	Compensation expense associated with the Stock-Settled Performance Units is set forth below (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012			2011		2010
		Performance			Performance			Performance			Performance		Performance
		Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards			Unit Awards		Unit Awards
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	1,347		$	1,855		$	1,022		$	464	NA
	Year ended December 31, 2013	NA			$	1,391		$	1,022		$	1,856	$	260
	Year ended December 31, 2012	NA			NA			$	766		$	1,856	$	1,039
Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Additional Information with Respect to Non-vested Shares	Additional information as of December 31, 2014 with respect to these non-vested options follows:
	Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)	$	33
	Weighted-average remaining contractual term	8.77 years
	Weighted-average remaining expected term	3.77 years
	Weighted-average remaining vesting period	1.63 years
	Unrecognized compensation cost	$6.0 million
Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Additional Information with Respect to Non-vested Shares	As of December 31, 2014, approximately 1.4 million shares of non-vested restricted stock outstanding are expected to vest. Additional information as of December 31, 2014 with respect to these non-vested shares follows:
	Aggregate intrinsic value	$23.2 million
	Weighted-average remaining vesting period	1.83 years
	Unrecognized compensation cost	$29.0 million

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]
Summary of Future Minimum Rental Payments Under Operating Leases	Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	Year ending December 31,
	2015	$	14,554
	2016		8,838
	2017		3,431
	2018		2,638
	2019		1,834
	Thereafter		3,587
	Total	$	34,882

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of Income Tax Provision	Components of the income tax provision applicable to federal, state and foreign income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Federal income tax expense (benefit):
	Current	$	39,438		$	41,558		$	(512	)
	Deferred		39,673			47,136			156,003
			79,111			88,694			155,491
	State income tax expense:
	Current		3,987			11,733			12,455
	Deferred		5,292			4,229			5,483
			9,279			15,962			17,938
	Foreign income tax expense (benefit):
	Current		4,521			4,572			3,817
	Deferred		(1,292	)		(796	)		(1,050	)
			3,229			3,776			2,767
	Total income tax expense:
	Current		47,946			57,863			15,760
	Deferred		43,673			50,569			160,436
	Total income tax expense:	$	91,619		$	108,432		$	176,196
Difference Between Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate and Effective Income Tax Rate	The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is summarized as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State income taxes		2.5			3.7			2.5
	Permanent differences		(1.4	)		(1.5	)		(0.2	)
	Other, net		(0.1	)		(0.6	)		(0.3	)
	Effective tax rate		36	%		36.6	%		37	%
Tax Effect of Significant Temporary Differences Representing Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	The tax effect of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes therein were as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,			Net			December 31,			Net			December 31,			Net			December 31,
		2014			Change			2013			Change			2012			Change			2011
	Deferred tax assets:
	Current:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	—		$	(—	)	$	—		$	(18,914	)	$	18,914		$	(95,662	)	$	114,576
	Workers’ compensation allowance		28,310			698			27,612			2,534			25,078			1,074			24,004
	Other		22,396			2,749			19,647			(804	)		20,451			1,651			18,800
			50,706			3,447			47,259			(17,184	)		64,443			(92,937	)		157,380
	Non-current:
	Net operating loss carryforwards		12,464			(988	)		13,452			1,690			11,762			(6,672	)		18,434
	Expense associated with employee stock options		14,386			(1,822	)		16,208			1,536			14,672			1,944			12,728
	Federal benefit of state deferred tax liabilities		24,019			1,181			22,838			816			22,022			1,762			20,260
	Other		16,047			1,344			14,703			(421	)		15,124			4,454			10,670
			66,916			(285	)		67,201			3,621			63,580			1,488			62,092
	Total deferred tax assets		117,622			3,162			114,460			(13,563	)		128,023			(91,449	)		219,472
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Current:
	Other		(13,631	)		676			(14,307	)		(2,823	)		(11,484	)		3,171			(14,655	)
	Non-current:
	Property and equipment basis difference		(986,953	)		(47,359	)		(939,594	)		(33,997	)		(905,597	)		(69,774	)		(835,823	)
	Other		(15,623	)		(152	)		(15,471	)		(186	)		(15,285	)		(2,384	)		(12,901	)
			(1,002,576	)		(47,511	)		(955,065	)		(34,183	)		(920,882	)		(72,158	)		(848,724	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(1,016,207	)		(46,835	)		(969,372	)		(37,006	)		(932,366	)		(68,987	)		(863,379	)
	Net deferred tax liability	$	(898,585	)	$	(43,673	)	$	(854,912	)	$	(50,569	)	$	(804,343	)	$	(160,436	)	$	(643,907	)

Business_Segments_Tables

Business Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segments - Financial Information	The following tables summarize selected financial information relating to the Company’s business segments (in thousands):
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Revenues:
	Contract drilling		$	1,843,707		$	1,684,878		$	1,826,519
	Pressure pumping			1,294,569			979,166			841,771
	Oil and natural gas			50,196			57,257			59,930
	Total segment revenues			3,188,472			2,721,301			2,728,220
	Elimination of intercompany revenues(a)			(6,181	)		(5,267	)		(4,806	)
	Total revenues		$	3,182,291		$	2,716,034		$	2,723,414
	Income before income taxes:
	Contract drilling		$	241,851		$	266,262		$	349,393
	Pressure pumping			89,081			87,244			132,795
	Oil and natural gas			(5,482	)		19,948			27,210
				325,450			373,454			509,398
	Corporate and other			(58,105	)		(54,647	)		(45,843	)
	Net gain on asset disposals(b)			15,781			3,384			33,806
	Interest income			979			918			554
	Interest expense			(29,825	)		(28,359	)		(22,750	)
	Other			3			1,691			508
	Income before income taxes		$	254,283		$	296,441		$	475,673
	Identifiable assets:
	Contract drilling		$	4,000,576		$	3,569,588		$	3,538,289
	Pressure pumping			1,186,010			761,199			784,128
	Oil and natural gas			50,945			58,656			54,188
	Corporate and other(c)			156,480			297,684			180,306
	Total assets		$	5,394,011		$	4,687,127		$	4,556,911
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment:
	Contract drilling		$	524,023		$	438,728		$	390,316
	Pressure pumping			147,595			129,984			111,062
	Oil and natural gas			42,576			24,400			21,417
	Corporate and other			4,536			4,357			3,819
	Total depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment		$	718,730		$	597,469		$	526,614
	Capital expenditures:
	Contract drilling		$	771,593		$	504,508		$	744,949
	Pressure pumping			241,359			122,782			194,117
	Oil and natural gas			36,683			31,245			29,888
	Corporate and other			2,706			3,926			5,034
	Total capital expenditures		$	1,052,341		$	662,461		$	973,988
	(a)	Consists of contract drilling and, in 2014, pressure pumping intercompany revenues for services provided to the oil and natural gas exploration and production segment.
	(b)	Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.
	(c)	Corporate and other assets primarily include cash on hand, income tax receivables and certain deferred tax assets.

Concentrations_of_Credit_Risk_

Concentrations of Credit Risk (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]
Company's Demand Deposits and Temporary Cash Investments	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s demand deposits and temporary cash investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions under insurance limits	$	636		$	369
	Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions over insurance limits		1,420			269,314
	Deposits in foreign banks		43,664			20,921
			45,720			290,604
	Less outstanding checks and other reconciling items		(2,708	)		(41,095	)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	43,012		$	249,509

Fair_Values_of_Financial_Instr1

Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Estimated Fair Value of Outstanding Debt Balances	The estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt balances (including current portion) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is set forth below (in thousands):
		31-Dec-14				31-Dec-13
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
	Borrowings under Credit Agreements:
	Revolving credit facility	$	303,000	$	303,000	$	—	$	—
	Term loan facility		82,500		82,500		92,500		92,500
	4.97% Series A Senior Notes		300,000		288,346		300,000		304,293
	4.27% Series B Senior Notes		300,000		269,173		300,000		286,772
	Total debt	$	985,500	$	943,019	$	692,500	$	683,565

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio1

Quarterly Financial Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information
		1st		2nd		3rd		4th
		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter
	2013
	Operating revenues	$	667,039	$	659,316	$	730,907	$	658,772
	Operating income		94,932		70,606		124,551		32,102
	Net income		56,230		40,768		74,420		16,591
	Net income per common share:
	Basic	$	0.38	$	0.28	$	0.51	$	0.12
	Diluted	$	0.38	$	0.28	$	0.51	$	0.11
	2014
	Operating revenues	$	678,168	$	757,276	$	845,628	$	901,219
	Operating income		58,776		87,226		30,291		106,833
	Net income		34,822		54,283		15,976		57,583
	Net income per common share:
	Basic	$	0.24	$	0.37	$	0.11	$	0.39
	Diluted	$	0.24	$	0.37	$	0.11	$	0.39

Estimated_Useful_Lives_of_Prop

Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum | Drilling Rigs and Other Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	1 year 3 months
Minimum | Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	15 years
Maximum | Drilling Rigs and Other Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	15 years
Maximum | Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years
Other | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Other | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	12 years

Description_of_Business_and_Su3

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Future net cash flow discount rate	10.00%

Calculation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
BASIC EPS:
Net income	$162,664	$188,009	$299,477
Adjust for income attributed to holders of non-vested restricted stock	-1,663	-1,859	-2,532
Income attributed to common stockholders	161,001	186,150	296,945
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock	144,066	144,356	151,144
Basic net income per common share	$1.12	$1.29	$1.96
DILUTED EPS:
Income attributed to common stockholders	$161,001	$186,150	$296,945
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding non-vested shares of restricted stock	144,066	144,356	151,144
Add dilutive effect of potential common shares	1,310	947	555
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding	145,376	145,303	151,699
Diluted income per common share	$1.11	$1.28	$1.96
Potentially dilutive securities excluded as anti-dilutive	1,088	2,447	5,416

Acquisitions_Additional_Inform

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
	hp	hp
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Hydraulic fracturing equipment purchased in the acquisition	148,250	31,500
Payments to acquire businesses			$176
Revenue from acquired business			80.8
Operating income (loss) from acquired business			$13.70
Pressure Pumping
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of pressure pumping acquisitions			2

Summary_of_Purchase_Price_Allo

Summary of Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$210,795	$153,809	$153,809
Pressure Pumping Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	1,357
Equipment	117,958
Goodwill	56,986
Total purchase price	$176,301

Business_Acquisition_Proforma_

Business Acquisition Pro-forma Unaudited Financial Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Revenue	$3,302,492	$2,854,867
Net income	$169,831	$196,600
Basic net income per common share	$1.17	$1.35
Diluted net income per common share	$1.16	$1.34

Property_and_Equipment_Detail

Property and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Equipment	$6,679,894	$5,749,975
Oil and natural gas properties	196,234	183,571
Buildings	83,465	80,050
Land	12,038	12,054
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Total	6,971,631	6,025,650
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment	-2,840,560	-2,390,109
Property and equipment, net	$4,131,071	$3,635,541

Depreciation_Depletion_Amortiz

Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Impairment Expense Related to Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation and impairment expense	$693,390	$573,106	$502,953
Amortization expense	3,643	3,993	4,110
Depletion expense	21,697	20,370	19,551
Total	$718,730	$597,469	$526,614

Property_and_Equipment_Additio

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment charges related to oil and natural gas properties	$20.90	$4	$1.90
Proceeds from sale of oil and natural gas properties			42.5
Gain on sale of oil and natural gas properties			22.6
Drilling Rigs That Would No Longer Be Marketed As Rigs
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of drilling rigs	55	48	36
Impairment charges of fleets	77.9	37.8	5.2
Mechanically powered drilling rigs
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of drilling rigs		55
Impairment charges of fleets		29.9
Pressure Pumping
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment charges of fleets			$7.30
Number of horsepower of pressure pumping equipment that would no longer be marketed			37,000

Goodwill_by_Operating_Segment_

Goodwill by Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$153,809	$153,809
Changes to goodwill	56,986
Ending Balance	210,795	153,809
Contract Drilling
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		86,234	86,234
Ending Balance	86,234	86,234	86,234
Pressure Pumping
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	67,575	67,575
Changes to goodwill	56,986
Ending Balance	$124,561	$67,575

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2010
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Accumulated impairment losses	$0	$0
Goodwill impairment, long-term growth rate		3.00%
Amortization expense	3,643	3,993	4,110
Non-compete Agreement
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Contract term				3 years
Amortization period (in years)		3 years
Amortization expense		350	467
Customer Relationships
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization period (in years)	7 years
Amortization expense	$3,600	$3,600	$3,600
Contract Drilling
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment, discount rate		11.87%
Pressure Pumping
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment, discount rate		12.40%

Gross_Carrying_Amount_and_Accu

Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets (Detail) (Customer Relationships, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Customer Relationships
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$25,500	$25,500
Accumulated Amortization	-15,482	-11,839
Net Carrying Amount	$10,018	$13,661

Summary_of_Accrued_Expenses_De

Summary of Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Salaries, wages, payroll taxes and benefits	$52,956	$45,836
Workers’ compensation liability	77,348	74,975
Property, sales, use and other taxes	11,644	12,367
Insurance, other than workers’ compensation	9,632	10,129
Accrued interest payable	7,427	7,604
Other	14,459	9,546
Accrued expenses	$173,466	$160,457

Changes_to_Companys_Asset_Reti

Changes to Company's Asset Retirement Obligations (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year	$4,837	$4,422
Liabilities incurred	473	375
Liabilities settled	-197	-126
Accretion expense	169	166
Revision in estimated costs of plugging oil and natural gas wells	19
Asset retirement obligation at end of year	$5,301	$4,837

Long_Term_Debt_Additional_Info

Long Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 27, 2012	Aug. 19, 2010	Oct. 05, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 14, 2012	Apr. 01, 2015
				LegalMatter		LegalMatter		LegalMatter
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Unfunded letters of credit, amount outstanding	$39,800,000
Line of credit, available borrowing capacity	157,000,000
Debt issuance costs			7,581,000
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issuance costs	2,200,000	2,200,000	3,400,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin	2.25%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Scenario Forecast
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin									2.75%
Base Rate
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin	1.25%
Base Rate | Scenario Forecast
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin									1.75%
Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				700,000,000
Debt maturity date				27-Sep-17
Aggregate amount by which the revolving credit facility can be increased				100,000,000
Commitment fee payable to the lenders for the unused portion of the credit facility	0.50%
Credit agreement, financial covenant description	The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 45%. 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 last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement generally defines the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
Number of compliance covenants				2
Credit Agreement | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter				300.00%
Credit Agreement | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time				45.00%
Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin				2.25%
Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin				3.25%
Credit Agreement | Base Rate | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin				1.25%
Credit Agreement | Base Rate | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Applicable margin				2.25%
Term Loan Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding	82,500,000
Line of credit facility, interest rate	2.50%
Term Loan Facility | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Current aggregate borrowing capacity				100,000,000
Line of credit facility, frequency of payment and payment terms	The term loan facility provides for a loan of $100 million, which was drawn on December 24, 2012. The term loan facility is payable in quarterly principal installments, which commenced December 27, 2012. The installment amounts vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments, 5.00% of the original principal amount for the subsequent four quarterly installments and 13.75% of the original principal amount for the final four quarterly installments.
Line of credit facility, frequency of payments				Quarterly
Commencement date of principal payments				27-Dec-12
Term Loan Facility | First Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount				1.25%
Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Eight Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount				2.50%
Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount				5.00%
Term Loan Facility | Amount For The Final Four Quarterly Installments | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount				13.75%
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding	303,000,000
Line of credit facility, weighted average interest rate	2.65%
Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Current aggregate borrowing capacity				500,000,000
2010 Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Credit agreement date					19-Aug-10
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Current aggregate borrowing capacity					100,000,000
Line of credit facility, frequency of payment and payment terms					The term loan facility was payable in quarterly principal installments commencing November 10, 2010. The installment amounts were scheduled to vary from 1.25% of the original principal amount for each of the first four quarterly installments, 2.50% of the original principal amount for each of the subsequent eight quarterly installments and 5.00% of the original principal amount for the next subsequent three quarterly installments, with the balance due on the maturity date of August 19, 2014.
Line of credit facility, frequency of payments					Quarterly
Commencement date of principal payments					10-Nov-10
Debt maturity date					19-Aug-14
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | First Four Quarterly Installments
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount					1.25%
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Eight Quarterly Installments
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount					2.50%
2010 Credit Agreement | Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Four Quarterly Installments
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Installment amounts percentage of the original principal amount					5.00%
2010 Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					400,000,000
Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Current aggregate borrowing capacity				150,000,000
Swing Line Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Current aggregate borrowing capacity				40,000,000
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt maturity date						5-Oct-20
Number of compliance covenants						2
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount						300,000,000
Debt interest rate						4.97%
Notes issuance date						5-Oct-10
Description of the prepayment terms	Notes are prepayable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, provided that in the case of a partial prepayment, prepayment must be in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, at any time and from time to time at 100% of the principal amount prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the prepayment date, plus a “make-whole” premium as specified in the note purchase agreements. The Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of any change of control. In addition, the Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of certain asset dispositions if the proceeds therefrom are not timely reinvested in productive assets. If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.
Description of the acceptance terms	If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.
Acceptance terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest						100.00%
Note purchase agreement, financial covenant description	The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 50% at any time. The note purchase agreements generally define 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 last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00. The note purchase agreements generally define the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of EBITDA for the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter						2.50%
Prepayment terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest and "make-whole" premium						100.00%
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time						50.00%
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs							10,800,000
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Semi Annual Payment, First Payment
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest pay date	5-Apr
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020 | Semi Annual Payment, Second Payment
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest pay date	5-Oct
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt maturity date								14-Jun-22
Number of compliance covenants								2
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount								300,000,000
Debt interest rate								4.27%
Notes issuance date								14-Jun-12
Description of the prepayment terms	Notes are prepayable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, provided that in the case of a partial prepayment, prepayment must be in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding, at any time and from time to time at 100% of the principal amount prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the prepayment date, plus a “make-whole” premium as specified in the note purchase agreements. The Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of any change of control. In addition, the Company must offer to prepay the notes upon the occurrence of certain asset dispositions if the proceeds therefrom are not timely reinvested in productive assets. If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.
Description of the acceptance terms	If any offer to prepay is accepted, the purchase price of each prepaid note is 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the prepayment date.
Acceptance terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest								100.00%
Note purchase agreement, financial covenant description	The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 50% at any time. The note purchase agreements generally define 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 last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00. The note purchase agreements generally define the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of EBITDA for the four prior fiscal quarters to interest charges for the same period. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest coverage ratio that the Company must exceed on the last day of the fiscal quarter								2.50%
Prepayment terms, percent of principal before accrued and unpaid interest and "make-whole" premium								100.00%
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt to capitalization ratio, percentage the Company must not exceed at any time								50.00%
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs			7,600,000
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Semi Annual Payment, First Payment
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest pay date	5-Apr
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022 | Semi Annual Payment, Second Payment
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest pay date	5-Oct
Corporate Debt Securities | 2010 Credit Agreement
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest expense on debt extinguishment			$978,000

Schedule_of_Principal_Repaymen

Schedule of Principal Repayment Requirements of Long Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
2015	$12,500
2016	28,750
2017	344,250
Thereafter	600,000
Total	$985,500	$692,500

Commitments_Contingencies_and_1

Commitments Contingencies and Other Matters - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Letters of credit, collateral for retrospective premiums and retained losses		$39,800,000
Amount drawn under letters of credit		0
Commitments to purchase major equipment		512,000,000
Current obligation		71,800,000
Purchase obligations for 2015		15,400,000
Civil penalties for alleged RCRA violations	1,100,000
Self-insured retention		2,000,000
Workers' compensation, deductible per occurrence		1,500,000
Automobile liability insurance, deductible per occurrence		2,000,000
Key Employees | Change in Control Agreements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Automatic renewal period		12 months
New term notification period		90 days
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | Change in Control Agreements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee entitlement ratio		2.5
Continued coverage entitlement of welfare plan period		3 years
Senior Vice Presidents | Change in Control Agreements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee entitlement ratio		2
Continued coverage entitlement of welfare plan period		2 years
General Counsel | Change in Control Agreements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee entitlement ratio		1.5
Continued coverage entitlement of welfare plan period		2 years
Non Revolving Senior Secured Term Loan
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Advance to non-affiliates		12,000,000
Notes receivable interest rate		5.00%
Notes receivable		11,800,000
Repayment of notes receivable		8,600,000
Notes receivable outstanding		$3,200,000

Cash_Dividends_Detail

Cash Dividends (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, per share	$0.40	$0.20	$0.20
Cash dividends paid	$58,288	$29,112	$30,302
Period 1
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	27-Mar-14	29-Mar-13	30-Mar-12
Cash dividends paid, per share	$0.10	$0.05	$0.05
Cash dividends paid	14,456	7,312	7,788
Period 2
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	26-Jul-14	28-Jun-13	29-Jun-12
Cash dividends paid, per share	$0.10	$0.05	$0.05
Cash dividends paid	14,562	7,361	7,650
Period 3
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	24-Sep-14	30-Sep-13	28-Sep-12
Cash dividends paid, per share	$0.10	$0.05	$0.05
Cash dividends paid	14,634	7,231	7,518
Period 4
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid, date	24-Dec-14	31-Dec-13	28-Dec-12
Cash dividends paid, per share	$0.10	$0.05	$0.05
Cash dividends paid	$14,636	$7,208	$7,346

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 04, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 01, 2007	Jul. 25, 2012	Sep. 06, 2013
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Remaining Amount approved for repurchases under stock buyback program		$187
2007 Program | Maximum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Amount approved for repurchases under stock buyback program			250
2012 Program | Maximum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Amount approved for repurchases under stock buyback program				150
2013 Program | Maximum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Amount approved for repurchases under stock buyback program					$200
Subsequent Event | Dividend Declared
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Dividend declaration date	4-Feb-15
Dividend per share, declared	$0.10
Dividend payment date	25-Mar-15
Dividend record date	11-Mar-15

Treasury_Stock_Acquisition_Det

Treasury Stock Acquisition (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired, Shares, Beginning balance	42,268,057	38,146,738	27,487,571
Treasury stock acquired, Shares, Ending balance	42,818,585	42,268,057	38,146,738
Treasury stock acquired, Values, Beginning balance	$880,888	$795,051	$624,759
Treasury stock acquired, Values	18,147	85,837	170,292
Treasury stock acquired, Values, Ending balance	899,035	880,888	795,051
2007 Program
Schedule of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired, Shares			4,708,784
Treasury stock acquired, Values			70,092
2012 Program
Schedule of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired, Shares		2,567,266	5,863,451
Treasury stock acquired, Values		51,107	98,892
2013 Program
Schedule of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired, Shares	13,898	602,564
Treasury stock acquired, Values	466	12,517
Long Term Incentive Plan
Schedule of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired, Shares	536,630	951,489	86,932
Treasury stock acquired, Values	$17,681	$22,213	$1,308

Companys_ShareBased_Compensati

Company's Share-Based Compensation Plans (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2014
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares Authorized for Grant	9,100,000
Shares Underlying Awards Outstanding	1,242,600
Shares Available for Grant	6,478,876
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares Underlying Awards Outstanding	6,070,794
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended ("1997 Plan")
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares Underlying Awards Outstanding	300,000

Stockbased_Compensation_Additi

Stock-based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2012
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquisition price	$18,147,000	$85,837,000	$170,292,000
Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Treasury stock shares acquired	190,919
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	4,300,000
Options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 11 months 1 day
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	4,200,000
Options exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 3 months 11 days
Outstanding non-vested options	862,000
Employee Stock Option | Acquired to satisfy the exercise price
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquisition price	4,600,000
Employee Stock Option | Acquired to satisfy payroll tax withholding obligations
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquisition price	1,600,000
Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding non-vested restricted stock	1,400,000
Performance Units Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award description	Generally, the recipients will receive a target number of shares if the Company’s total shareholder return is positive and, when compared to the peer group, is at the 50th percentile and two times the target if at the 75th percentile or higher.
Performance period	3 years
Performance Units Awards | 2009
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award description	Generally, the recipients would receive a target payment if the Company’s total shareholder return was positive and, when compared to the peer group, was at or above the 50th percentile but less than the 75th percentile and two times the target if at the 75th percentile or higher.
Target awards payment	3,400,000
Pro-rated obligation						1,700,000
Compensation expense			-1,900,000
Performance Units Awards | 2010
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense		260,000	1,039,000
Shares issued				357,500
Performance Units Awards | 2011
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$464,000	$1,856,000	$1,856,000
Shares issued					288,750
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Maximum
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option term	10 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Non Employee Director
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Employees
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended | Non Employee Director | Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended | Non Employee Director | Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended | Employees | Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended | Employees | Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended ("1997 Plan") | Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	4 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended ("1997 Plan") | Maximum | Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	5 years
Option term	10 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended ("1997 Plan") | Minimum | Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years

WeightedAverage_Assumptions_Us

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Estimate Grant Date Fair Values for Stock Options Granted (Detail) (Employee Stock Option)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Method Used [Line Items]
Volatility	35.89%	41.36%	48.79%
Expected term (in years)	5 years	5 years	5 years
Dividend yield	1.17%	0.89%	1.21%
Risk-free interest rate	1.76%	0.70%	0.87%

Stock_Option_Activity_Detail

Stock Option Activity (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Underlying Shares
Outstanding at beginning of year	7,319,695
Granted	491,750
Exercised	-1,725,195
Outstanding at end of year	6,086,250
Exercisable at end of year	5,224,223
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of year	$21.23
Granted	$32.32
Exercised	$20.54
Outstanding at end of year	$22.32
Exercisable at end of year	$21.45

Additional_Information_with_Re

Additional Information with Respect to Options Granted, Vested and Exercised (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted (per share)	$9.81	$7.59	$6.37
Aggregate grant date fair value of stock options vested during the year	$5,173	$5,240	$5,512
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$21,862	$8,683	$138

Additional_Information_with_Re1

Additional Information with Respect to Non-vested Shares (Detail) (Employee Stock Option, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)	$33,000
Weighted-average remaining contractual term	8 years 9 months 7 days
Weighted-average remaining expected term	3 years 9 months 7 days
Weighted-average remaining vesting period	1 year 7 months 17 days
Unrecognized compensation cost	$6,000,000

Restricted_Stock_Activity_Deta

Restricted Stock Activity (Detail) (Restricted Stock Awards, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock Awards
Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period	1,496,692
Granted	813,150
Vested	-755,564
Forfeited	-61,219
Outstanding at end of period	1,493,059
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	$20.84
Granted	$33.07
Vested	$21.67
Forfeited	$24.66
Outstanding at end of period	$26.93

Additional_Information_on_Non_

Additional Information on Non Vested Restricted Stock (Detail) (Restricted Stock Awards, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock Awards
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Restricted Stock Units [Line Items]
Aggregate intrinsic value	$23.20
Weighted-average remaining vesting period	1 year 9 months 29 days
Unrecognized compensation cost	$29

Restricted_Stock_Unit_Activity

Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Detail) (Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period	20,256
Granted	24,250
Vested	-9,754
Forfeited	-667
Outstanding at end of period	34,085
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	$20.67
Granted	$34.66
Vested	$22.13
Forfeited	$21.09
Outstanding at end of period	$30.20

StockSettled_Performance_Units

Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail) (Performance Units Awards)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
2014
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Target number of shares	154,000
2013
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Target number of shares	236,500
2012
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Target number of shares	192,000
2011
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Target number of shares	144,375
2010
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Target number of shares	178,750

Fair_Value_of_Stock_Settled_Pe

Fair Value of Stock Settled Performance Units (Detail) (Performance Units Awards, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
2014
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value at date of grant	$5,388
2013
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value at date of grant	5,564
2012
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value at date of grant	3,065
2011
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value at date of grant	5,569
2010
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Performance Options [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value at date of grant	$3,117

Compensation_Expense_Associate

Compensation Expense Associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units (Detail) (Performance Units Awards, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2014
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	$1,347
2013
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	1,855	1,391
2012
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	1,022	1,022	766
2011
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units	464	1,856	1,856
2010
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation Expense [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense associated with Stock-Settled Performance Units		$260	$1,039

Leases_Additional_Information_

Leases - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Leases [Abstract]
Rent expense	$51.90	$47.40	$39

Summary_of_Future_Minimum_Rent

Summary of Future Minimum Rental Payments Under Operating Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases [Abstract]
2015	$14,554
2016	8,838
2017	3,431
2018	2,638
2019	1,834
Thereafter	3,587
Total	$34,882

Components_of_Income_Tax_Provi

Components of Income Tax Provision (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Federal income tax expense (benefit):
Current	$39,438	$41,558	($512)
Deferred	39,673	47,136	156,003
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	79,111	88,694	155,491
State income tax expense:
Current	3,987	11,733	12,455
Deferred	5,292	4,229	5,483
State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	9,279	15,962	17,938
Foreign income tax expense (benefit):
Current	4,521	4,572	3,817
Deferred	-1,292	-796	-1,050
Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	3,229	3,776	2,767
Total income tax expense:
Current	47,946	57,863	15,760
Deferred	43,673	50,569	160,436
Total income tax expense	$91,619	$108,432	$176,196

Difference_Between_Statutory_F

Difference Between Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate and Effective Income Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Statutory tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes	2.50%	3.70%	2.50%
Permanent differences	-1.40%	-1.50%	-0.20%
Other, net	-0.10%	-0.60%	-0.30%
Effective tax rate	36.00%	36.60%	37.00%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2010	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Domestic Production Activities Deduction				9.00%
Permanent difference, domestic production activities deduction		$8,800,000	$10,000,000
Other deferred tax assets		38,400,000
State net operating losses		164,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits		0
Reduction in deferred tax liabilities due to statutory tax rates in Canada being lower than those in the United States	5,100,000
Unremitted Foreign Earnings		47,500,000
Unrecognized deferred tax liability associated with undistributed foreign earnings		7,200,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2016
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		6,800,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2025
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		630,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2026
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		16,900,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2029
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		31,900,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2030
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		25,700,000
State and Local Jurisdiction | Expire in 2031
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating losses carried forward		$82,500,000
U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax periods open for examination		Tax years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2013
U.S. | Earliest Tax Year
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax period open for examination		2011
U.S. | Latest Tax Year
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax period open for examination		2013
Canada
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax periods open for examination		Tax years ended December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2013
Canada | Earliest Tax Year
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax period open for examination		2010
Canada | Latest Tax Year
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax period open for examination		2013

Tax_Effect_of_Significant_Temp

Tax Effect of Significant Temporary Differences Representing Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	$50,706	$47,259	$64,443
Net Change	3,447	-17,184	-92,937
Beginning Balance	47,259	64,443	157,380
Ending Balance	66,916	67,201	63,580
Net Change	-285	3,621	1,488
Beginning Balance	67,201	63,580	62,092
Ending Balance	117,622	114,460	128,023
Net Change	3,162	-13,563	-91,449
Beginning Balance	114,460	128,023	219,472
Ending Balance	-1,002,576	-955,065	-920,882
Net Change	-47,511	-34,183	-72,158
Beginning Balance	-955,065	-920,882	-848,724
Ending Balance	-1,016,207	-969,372	-932,366
Net Change	-46,835	-37,006	-68,987
Beginning Balance	-969,372	-932,366	-863,379
Ending Balance	-898,585	-854,912	-804,343
Net Change	-43,673	-50,569	-160,436
Beginning Balance	-854,912	-804,343	-643,907
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance			18,914
Net Change		-18,914	-95,662
Beginning Balance		18,914	114,576
Ending Balance	12,464	13,452	11,762
Net Change	-988	1,690	-6,672
Beginning Balance	13,452	11,762	18,434
Workers Compensation Allowance
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	28,310	27,612	25,078
Net Change	698	2,534	1,074
Beginning Balance	27,612	25,078	24,004
Other
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	22,396	19,647	20,451
Net Change	2,749	-804	1,651
Beginning Balance	19,647	20,451	18,800
Ending Balance	16,047	14,703	15,124
Net Change	1,344	-421	4,454
Beginning Balance	14,703	15,124	10,670
Ending Balance	-13,631	-14,307	-11,484
Net Change	676	-2,823	3,171
Beginning Balance	-14,307	-11,484	-14,655
Ending Balance	-15,623	-15,471	-15,285
Net Change	-152	-186	-2,384
Beginning Balance	-15,471	-15,285	-12,901
Expense associated with employee stock options
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	14,386	16,208	14,672
Net Change	-1,822	1,536	1,944
Beginning Balance	16,208	14,672	12,728
Federal benefit of state deferred tax liabilities
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	24,019	22,838	22,022
Net Change	1,181	816	1,762
Beginning Balance	22,838	22,022	20,260
Property and equipment basis difference
Schedule of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Ending Balance	-986,953	-939,594	-905,597
Net Change	-47,359	-33,997	-69,774
Beginning Balance	($939,594)	($905,597)	($835,823)

Employee_Benefits_Additional_I

Employee Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash contributions to 401(K) plan	$7.20	$6.20	$5.40

Business_Segments_Additional_I

Business Segments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
	Customer	Customer	Customer
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of reportable business segments	3
Long-lived assets	4,131,071,000	$3,635,541,000
Major Customer
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues		286,000,000
Number of customers accounted for 10% or more of consolidated revenues	0	1	0
Major Customer | Revenues
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of sales revenues		10.50%
Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Marketable land-based drilling rigs	239
Canada | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Oil and gas services	87,500,000	86,600,000	79,400,000
Long-lived assets	57,600,000	$69,100,000

Business_Segments_Revenues_Det

Business Segments - Revenues (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$3,182,291		$2,716,034		$2,723,414
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,188,472		2,721,301		2,728,220
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,843,707		1,684,878		1,826,519
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,294,569		979,166		841,771
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	50,196		57,257		59,930
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	($6,181)	[1]	($5,267)	[1]	($4,806)	[1]
[1]	Consists of contract drilling and, in 2014, pressure pumping intercompany revenues for services provided to the oil and natural gas exploration and production segment.

Business_Segments_Income_Loss_

Business Segments - Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$283,126		$322,191		$497,361
Net gain on asset disposals	15,781	[1]	3,384	[1]	33,806	[1]
Interest income	979		918		554
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-29,825		-28,359		-22,750
Other	3		1,691		508
Income before income taxes	254,283		296,441		475,673
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	325,450		373,454		509,398
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	241,851		266,262		349,393
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	89,081		87,244		132,795
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	-5,482		19,948		27,210
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	($58,105)		($54,647)		($45,843)
[1]	Net gains or losses associated with the disposal of assets relate to corporate strategy decisions of the executive management group. Accordingly, the related gains or losses have been separately presented and excluded from the results of specific segments.

Business_Segments_Assets_Detai

Business Segments - Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$5,394,011		$4,687,127		$4,556,911
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	4,000,576		3,569,588		3,538,289
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,186,010		761,199		784,128
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	50,945		58,656		54,188
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$156,480	[1]	$297,684	[1]	$180,306	[1]
[1]	Corporate and other assets primarily include cash on hand, income tax receivables and certain deferred tax assets.

Business_Segments_Depreciation

Business Segments - Depreciation, Amortization and Improvement (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	$718,730	$597,469	$526,614
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	524,023	438,728	390,316
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	147,595	129,984	111,062
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	42,576	24,400	21,417
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment	$4,536	$4,357	$3,819

Business_Segments_Capital_Expe

Business Segments - Capital Expenditures (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	$1,052,341	$662,461	$973,988
Operating Segments | Contract Drilling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	771,593	504,508	744,949
Operating Segments | Pressure Pumping
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	241,359	122,782	194,117
Operating Segments | Oil And Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	36,683	31,245	29,888
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	$2,706	$3,926	$5,034

Companys_Demand_Deposits_and_T

Company's Demand Deposits and Temporary Cash Investments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]
Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions under insurance limits	$636	$369
Deposits in FDIC and SIPC-insured institutions over insurance limits	1,420	269,314
Deposits in foreign banks	43,664	20,921
Total Cash and cash equivalents., Total	45,720	290,604
Less outstanding checks and other reconciling items	-2,708	-41,095
Cash and cash equivalents	$43,012	$249,509	$110,723	$23,946

Concentrations_of_Credit_Risk_1

Concentrations of Credit Risk - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]
Provision for bad debts	$0	$0	$1,100

Estimated_Fair_Value_of_Outsta

Estimated Fair Value of Outstanding Debt Balances (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Carrying value of Debt	$985,500	$692,500
Fair value of Debt	943,019	683,565
Revolving Credit Facility
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Carrying value of Debt	303,000
Fair value of Debt	303,000
Term Loan Facility
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Carrying value of Debt	82,500	92,500
Fair value of Debt	82,500	92,500
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Carrying value of Debt	300,000	300,000
Fair value of Debt	288,346	304,293
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Carrying value of Debt	300,000	300,000
Fair value of Debt	$269,173	$286,772

Fair_Values_of_Financial_Instr2

Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
4.97% Series A Senior Notes, Due October 5th 2020
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Current market rates used in measuring fair value	5.77%	4.52%
4.27% Series B Senior Notes, Due June 14th 2022
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Current market rates used in measuring fair value	6.00%	4.89%

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio2

Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$3,182,291	$2,716,034	$2,723,414
Operating income	283,126	322,191	497,361
Net income	162,664	188,009	299,477
Net income per common share:
Basic	$1.12	$1.29	$1.96
Diluted	$1.11	$1.28	$1.96
First Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	678,168	667,039
Operating income	58,776	94,932
Net income	34,822	56,230
Net income per common share:
Basic	$0.24	$0.38
Diluted	$0.24	$0.38
Second Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	757,276	659,316
Operating income	87,226	70,606
Net income	54,283	40,768
Net income per common share:
Basic	$0.37	$0.28
Diluted	$0.37	$0.28
Third Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	845,628	730,907
Operating income	30,291	124,551
Net income	15,976	74,420
Net income per common share:
Basic	$0.11	$0.51
Diluted	$0.11	$0.51
Fourth Quarter
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	901,219	658,772
Operating income	106,833	32,102
Net income	$57,583	$16,591
Net income per common share:
Basic	$0.39	$0.12
Diluted	$0.39	$0.11

Recovered_Sheet1

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$3,674		$3,513		$4,887
Charged to Costs and Expenses					1,100
Deductions	-128	[1]	161	[1]	-2,474	[1]
Ending Balance	$3,546		$3,674		$3,513
[1]	Consists of uncollectible accounts (written off) or recovered