Abstract: A method for the treatment of oil-based sludge by thermal desorption, characterized in that it comprises a step of conditioning of the sludge to be treated which includes the conditioning of the oil-based sludge with rice husk in a 1:2 ratio, before entering the TDU, increasing the technical and economic viability and cost relation of the thermal desorption for oil-based sludge treatment, showing better performance, and making possible the treatment of sludge on an industrial scale with effective rates of 28.6 m3/day, oil recovery of 54%, with a volumetric increase of 19%, compared to the original volume, and a fuel consumption adjusted to the historical data of the TDU from the economic point of view, which allows to have a high amount of rice husk, reducing the costs associated with the elimination of this agro-industrial waste.