The Vertical Cuttings Dryer (V.C.D.) is used to pre-treat oil base cuttings and reduce the oil content (OOC: Oil on cuttings) to 3- 5%. In many countries, sands or cuttings with less than 5% or 8% OOC (Oil on Cuttings) is allowed to be discharged. The Vertical Cuttings Dryer (V.C.D.) can also be used to pre-treat the sludge oil.

Many customers cannot tell the difference of vertical cuttings dryer and decanter centrifuge for waste management application. They do not know what is the real difference between decanter centrifuge and VCD (vertical cuttings dryer).

Decanter centrifuge and VCD (vertical cuttings dryer) have different applications and functions while treating the drilling cuttings or the oily sludge.

Vertical cuttings dryer can be used to treat the drill cutting from shale shaker, mud cleaner, desander, and desilter. VCD cannot be used to treat cuttings from decanter centrifuges. As the solids from decanter centrifuges is too fine to remove. They will go through the screen opening of the VCD.

Some clients may ask what is the size and maximum size for screen to avoid the sludge to go through the VCD directly.

There are 3 sizes screen for VCD: 0.25 /0.35/0.5mm. All solids bigger than the screen opening will be removed by VCD, while smaller size particles than the screen opening go through the screen opening and is mixed together with the recovered liquid. 0.35mm is the most popular size.

As the solids smaller than VCD (vertical cuttings dryer) screen opening (0.25 /0.35/0.5mm) will go through the screen opening and together with the liquid. The recovered liquid fromVCD (vertical cuttings dryer)will be with a very high fine solids content. The mud weight is too heavy to be reused for drilling mud systems. Decanter centrifuge will be used afterVCD (vertical cuttings dryer)to remove fine solids and reduce the mud weight. After centrifuge, the liquid can go back to rig mud system for reuse.