Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented Type (Shale Shaker, Desander, Desilter, Vacuum Degasser, Centrifuge, and Other Types), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.88 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.32%
Fastest Growing Segment	Desander
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 4.16 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market will grow from USD 2.88 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.16 Billion by 2031 at a 6.32% CAGR. Offshore Solid Control Equipment encompasses specialized machinery integrated into drilling rigs to separate solid cuttings from drilling fluids, thereby enabling fluid recycling and ensuring compliant waste disposal. The expansion of this market is primarily driven by increasingly stringent environmental regulations regarding marine discharge, which compel operators to adopt high-efficiency separation systems to minimize ecological impact. Additionally, the economic imperative to reduce operational costs supports market growth, as effective solid removal preserves the quality of expensive drilling fluids and protects downstream equipment from abrasive wear, significantly extending asset lifespans.

Despite these drivers, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high initial capital investment and maintenance costs associated with these systems, which can limit adoption during periods of restricted exploration budgets. This correlation between equipment demand and drilling activity is highlighted by recent industry data. According to the International Association of Drilling Contractors, in 2025, active mobile offshore drilling units totaled 502, maintaining a strong utilization rate of 80%. This statistic underscores a stabilized yet competitive landscape where equipment procurement relies heavily on sustained offshore project viability.

Key Market Drivers

The Resurgence of Global Offshore Exploration and Production Activities acts as a critical engine for the solid control equipment sector, compelling operators to upgrade waste management capacities to handle intensified drilling schedules. As field development accelerates across major basins, the requirement for high-throughput separation systems increases to prevent costly downtime and maintain fluid properties. This momentum is quantified by the financial performance of leading offshore contractors who are securing substantial future work. According to TechnipFMC, October 2024, in the 'Third Quarter 2024 Results' press release, the company reported that total inbound orders reached $2.8 billion, pushing their backlog to a record-breaking $14.7 billion. Such elevated order books indicate a sustained commitment to new offshore projects, directly fueling the procurement and maintenance cycles for solid control units essential to these operations.

Concurrently, the Expansion of Exploration into Deepwater and Ultra-Deepwater Reserves necessitates the deployment of advanced solid control technologies capable of operating in extreme marine environments. These frontiers demand closed-loop systems that can effectively process complex synthetic-based muds while strictly adhering to environmental discharge limits. The market's shift toward these high-specification assets is reflected in the premium valuations of deepwater drilling units. According to Transocean, October 2024, in the 'Quarterly Fleet Status Report', the ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Atlas was awarded a contract at a dayrate of $635,000, underscoring the high demand for specialized deepwater capabilities. Furthermore, broad market health is evident as, according to SLB, in 2024, international revenue grew 4% year-on-year in the third quarter, driven largely by long-cycle deepwater and gas projects which rely heavily on efficient solid removal.

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Key Market Challenges

The Global Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market faces a substantial hurdle regarding the high initial capital investment and ongoing maintenance costs required for these advanced systems. This financial barrier directly hampers market growth by forcing operators to prioritize essential operational expenditures over equipment upgrades, particularly when project margins are thin. Because solid control units represent a significant upfront expense, drilling contractors often defer purchasing new, higher-efficiency models during periods of financial tightness, opting instead to maintain legacy systems or utilize rental options to preserve liquidity. This reluctance to commit capital effectively stalls the technology adoption cycle and reduces overall market procurement volumes.

The impact of this cost constraint is magnified when regional markets experience fiscal instability, rendering operators unable to justify large capital outlays for auxiliary equipment. This correlation between financial health and equipment spending is evident in recent industry performance metrics. According to Offshore Energies UK, in 2025, the net rate of return for companies operating on the UK Continental Shelf fell to minus 1% due to high taxation and unstable fiscal conditions. When operators face such negative returns, the capacity to invest in expensive solid control machinery is severely diminished, transforming these critical efficiency tools into deferrable costs and thereby suppressing market expansion.

Key Market Trends

The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence for Automated Equipment Control is fundamentally reshaping rig operations by replacing manual oversight with algorithm-driven precision. Operators are increasingly integrating closed-loop automation software that dynamically adjusts drilling parameters such as weight-on-bit and rate of penetration in real-time, thereby mitigating human error and optimizing wellbore quality. This technological shift is financially quantified by the uptake of advanced digital solutions among leading contractors. According to Nabors Industries, October 2024, in the 'Nabors Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results' press release, the company reported that its Drilling Solutions segment generated an adjusted EBITDA of $34.3 million, a performance directly attributed to the higher market penetration of their automated performance software across domestic rig fleets.

The Deployment of Onsite Thermal Desorption Units (TDU) represents a critical evolution in waste management, moving the industry away from traditional "skip and ship" logistics toward immediate onsite treatment. By utilizing high-temperature processing directly on offshore platforms, these units separate drill cuttings into oil, water, and solids, allowing for the immediate recovery and reuse of expensive base fluids while significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with waste transportation. This operational transition is evidenced by substantial service contracts dedicated to this specific technology. According to TWMA, October 2024, in the 'TWMA Expands Middle East Operations Following $70 Million Contract Win' press release, the company secured a two-year agreement valued at approximately $70 million to provide onsite thermal processing solutions for a major UAE operator, underscoring the growing commercial viability of this environmentally focused method.

Segmental Insights

The Desander segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category within the Global Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market due to its critical role in maintaining drilling fluid quality during complex deepwater operations. Offshore operators are increasingly adopting these units to efficiently remove abrasive solids, which safeguards downstream pumping and purification systems from excessive wear. This focus on extending equipment lifespan and ensuring operational continuity in remote marine environments drives the heightened demand. Additionally, effective solids separation supports compliance with rigorous waste management protocols mandated by international environmental standards, further reinforcing the segment's rapid expansion.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market, driven by extensive deepwater exploration projects, particularly within the Gulf of Mexico. This dominance is reinforced by stringent environmental protocols that mandate the effective separation of drilling fluids and cuttings prior to disposal. Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strictly enforce discharge limitations under the Clean Water Act, compelling operators to adopt highly efficient solid control systems. Consequently, the convergence of high drilling activity and rigorous compliance requirements positions the region as the principal driver of market demand.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, NOV Inc. reported that it had secured multiple orders for advanced equipment packages destined for offshore applications. The company disclosed that it would deliver solids separation systems and Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) recovery units for a large-scale gas treatment facility. Additionally, the company received orders for gas processing and water treatment packages for three newbuild floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units intended for operations in Brazil and West Africa. These awards reflect the continued investment in offshore production infrastructure and the critical need for reliable solids control and fluid treatment technologies in deepwater projects.
• In October 2024, TWMA announced that it had secured a significant contract with a leading operator in the United Arab Emirates to provide drilling waste management services. Valued at approximately $70 million, this two-year agreement includes options for renewal and covers the thermal processing of drilling waste on four artificial islands. The project involves the deployment of advanced processing technologies, such as the RotoMill 2.0, to handle waste generated by jack-up rigs and land rigs. This contract reinforces the industry's focus on onsite processing solutions that minimize environmental impact and optimize operational efficiency in offshore and island-based drilling projects.
• In May 2024, GN Solids America showcased its latest solids control and waste management equipment at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, Texas. During the exhibition, the company displayed key technologies designed for the offshore sector, including linear motion shale shakers, drilling mud decanter centrifuges, and solids vacuum pumps. The event provided a platform for the company to demonstrate the capabilities of its separation equipment to global energy professionals. The presentation emphasized the equipment's role in improving drilling fluid recovery and ensuring effective solids removal in demanding offshore environments.
• In April 2024, Soiltech ASA announced that Equinor had exercised an option to extend a drilling waste management contract for operations in the North Sea. This extension ensures the continued provision of the company’s comprehensive waste management technologies, which include slop treatment, cuttings handling, and swarf treatment services. The agreement encompasses work on fixed installations as well as mobile drilling units operating on behalf of the energy company. This development highlights the ongoing demand for efficient, sustainable offshore waste handling solutions that support decarbonization efforts while reducing operational costs for major offshore operators.

Key Market Players

• Schlumberger Limited
• Halliburton Company
• Weatherford International Plc
• Baker Hughes Company
• GN Solids Control
• Derrick Corporation
• KES Energy Equipment Manufacturing Hebei Co. Ltd
• China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation
• KOSUN Machinery Co. Ltd
• ORS International Ltd

By Region

North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Offshore Solid Control Equipment Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE