POWER OF ATTORNEY

	KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned,
Mark Patterson, hereby constitute and appoint Theodore F.
Pound III, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact as follows:

	1.	To execute for me and on my behalf in my capacity
		as a director or officer of Allis-Chalmers Energy
		Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
		Forms 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto in
		accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
		Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the rules
		thereunder;

	2.	To do and perform any and all acts for me and on
		my behalf that may be necessary or desirable to
		complete and execute any such Forms 4 or 5 and
		timely file such forms with the United States
		Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock
		exchange or similar authority; and

	3.	To take any other action of any type whatsoever in
		connection with the foregoing that, in the opinion
		of such attorney-in-fact may be of benefit to, in
		the best interest of, or legally required of me,
		it being understood that the documents executed by
		such attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to
		this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and
		shall contain such terms and conditions as such
		attorney-in-fact may approve in his discretion.

	I hereby grant to such attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper in the exercise of any
of the rights and powers granted herein as fully to all intents
and purposes as I might or could do in person, with full power of
substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that such attorney-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of
Attorney.  I acknowledge that the foregoing attorney-in-fact in
serving in such capacity at my request is not assuming, and the
Company is not assuming, any of my responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until I am no longer required to file Forms 4 and 5 with respect
to my holdings of, and any transactions in, securities issued by
the Company, unless earlier revoked by me in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorney-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney
as of this 23rd day of January 2008.



					/s/ Mark C. Patterson