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  <TITLE> Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (Form: 8-K) </TITLE>
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  		UNITED STATES<BR>
  	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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  	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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  	FORM 8-K
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  	CURRENT REPORT
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  	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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  	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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  	&nbsp;
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  	April 23, 2007
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  	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
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  <BR>__________________________________________<BR>
  	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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  	Delaware
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  	0-22664
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  	75-2504748
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  _____________________<BR>
  	(State or other jurisdiction
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  _____________<BR>
  	(Commission
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  ______________<BR>
  	(I.R.S. Employer
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  	of incorporation)
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  	File Number)
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  	Identification No.)
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  	4510 Lamesa Hwy., Snyder, Texas
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  	79549
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  _________________________________<BR>
  	(Address of principal executive offices)
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  ___________<BR>
  	(Zip Code)
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  	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
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  	325-574-6300
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  	Not Applicable
  <BR>______________________________________________<BR>
  	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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  	&nbsp;
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  <!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:</FONT>
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  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
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  	Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
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  (b)On April 23, 2007 and April 25, 2007, Ms. Nadine Smith and Mr. Robert Gist, respectively, advised the Company that they intended to retire at the end of their current terms as directors.  Accordingly, they advised the Company that they did not wish to stand for election at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  On April 25, 2007, the Board of Directors acknowledged their request and determined, assuming they complete their current terms as directors, that they will be considered to have retired as directors and that the one year vesting period applicable to the stock options and restricted stock granted to them as directors at the beginning of this fiscal year will be shortened to the last day of their service as a director.
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  	SIGNATURES
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  	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  	registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  	undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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  	Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	April 27, 2007
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  	By:
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  <I>
  	/s/ William L. Moll, Jr.
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  <I>
  	Name: William L. Moll, Jr.
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  	Title: General Counsel and Secretary
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_19872.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9076}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PATTERSON UTI ENERGY INC", "cik": "0000889900", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "752504748", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-22664", "film-number": "07796587"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4510 LAMESA HWY", "street2": "P O DRAWER 1416", "city": "SNYDER", "state": "TX", "zip": "79549", "phone": "9155731104"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O DRAWER 1416", "city": "SNYDER", "state": "TX", "zip": "79550"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PATTERSON ENERGY INC", "date-changed": "19940228"}}
text: Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (Form: 8-K)
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
  April 23, 2007
  Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
  __________________________________________
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  0-22664
  75-2504748
  _____________________
  (State or other jurisdiction
  _____________
  (Commission
  ______________
  (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)
  File Number)
  Identification No.)
  4510 Lamesa Hwy., Snyder, Texas
  79549
  _________________________________
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  325-574-6300
  Not Applicable
  ______________________________________________
  Former name or former address, if changed since last report
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:
  [  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Top of the Form
  Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  (b)On April 23, 2007 and April 25, 2007, Ms. Nadine Smith and Mr. Robert Gist, respectively, advised the Company that they intended to retire at the end of their current terms as directors.  Accordingly, they advised the Company that they did not wish to stand for election at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  On April 25, 2007, the Board of Directors acknowledged their request and determined, assuming they complete their current terms as directors, that they will be considered to have retired as directors and that the one year vesting period applicable to the stock options and restricted stock granted to them as directors at the beginning of this fiscal year will be shortened to the last day of their service as a director.
  Top of the Form
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  	registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  	undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
  April 27, 2007
  By:
  /s/ William L. Moll, Jr.
  Name: William L. Moll, Jr.
  Title: General Counsel and Secretary