Abstract: A solids heat exchanger (10) is in the form of a shell and tube arrangement having a shell section (11) through which heated oil (12) passes and a tube section (13). A screw conveyor (14) extends along its length and has a drive motor (15). Drill cuttings or other hydrocarbon contaminated materials are fed in through an inlet (16) and then conveyed along the tube (13) where heat transfer takes place. On exiting the tube (13) oil and water vapour rises and escapes through a first outlet (17) while the now cleaned drill cuttings or other materials fall through a second outlet (18) forming a discharge zone. The apparatus aims to reduce the oil content of the solids to less than 0.5%. The solids can then simply be disposed of. The base oil can be reclaimed and reused.

Abstract: A solids heat exchanger (10) is in the form of a shell and tube arrangement having a shell section (11) through which heated oil (12) passes and a tube section (13). A screw conveyor (14) extends along its length and has a drive motor (15). Drill cuttings or other hydrocarbon contaminated materials are fed in through an inlet (16) and then conveyed along the tube (13) where heat transfer takes place. On exiting the tube (13) oil and water vapour rises and escapes through a first outlet (17) while the now cleaned drill cuttings or other materials fall through a second outlet (18) forming a discharge zone. The apparatus aims to reduce the oil content of the solids to less than 0.5%. The solids can then simply be disposed of. The base oil can be reclaimed and reused.