<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001468952</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000889900</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>Patterson UTI Energy </issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-39270</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>10713 W Sam Houston Pkwy </com:street1>
        <com:city>Houston</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>77064</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>2817657185</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Tiffany Thom Cepak</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>UBS Financial Services Inc</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1000 Harbor Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:street2>3rd Floor</com:street2>
          <com:city>Weehawken</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07086</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>12000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>106320</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>376850000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/04/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/01/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Patterson UTI</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>12000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/01/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/04/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/Mijo  Suric, for UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for Tiffany Thom Cepak</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
