<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000889900</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PATTERSON UTI ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001404073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Holdings III L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKSTONE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478809</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKSTONE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478815</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKSTONE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001393818</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001404071</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Group Management L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKSTONE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001070844</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHWARZMAN STEPHEN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKSTONE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>As a result of an increase in the outstanding Common Stock in connection with the closing of the merger between the Issuer and NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc. as previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC on September 1, 2023, the Reporting Persons' beneficial ownership decreased to less than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock and, accordingly, such Reporting Persons ceased being subject to Section 16. Due to the limitations of the electronic filing system, certain Reporting Persons are filing a separate Form 4.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blackstone Holdings III L.P., By: Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., its general partner, By: Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner, By: /s/ Tabea Hsi, Name: Tabea Hsi, Title: Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., By: Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner, By: /s/ Tabea Hsi, Name: Tabea Hsi, Title: Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., By: /s/ Tabea Hsi, Name: Tabea Hsi, Title: Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blackstone Inc., By: /s/ Tabea Hsi, Name: Tabea Hsi, Title: Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., By: /s/ Tabea Hsi, Name: Tabea Hsi, Title: Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen A. Schwarzman, By: /s/ Stephen A. Schwarzman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
