Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Size - By Service, Analysis, Share, & Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Size

The global onshore drilling waste management market was valued at USD 3.5 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach the value of USD 7.6 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2025 to 2034. Environmental legislation is one of the main factors driving the onshore drilling waste management market's growth. Governments and global bodies are putting tighter legislations and regulations in place to check the negative environmental effects of drilling.

Legislation obligates oil and gas operators to use responsible waste management measures to minimize soil, water, and air. For instance, entities like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have put in place exhaustive frameworks mandating the treatment, recycling, or disposal of drilling waste in a proper manner. Regulations do not only extend to direct discharge of waste but also encompass the handling and storage of cuttings, muds, and other by-products.
 

With exploration operations approaching ecologically sensitive regions like arctic regions or residential areas, the acceptable level of tolerance for pollution has fallen sharply. Therefore, operators are under the pressure to utilize cutting-edge technologies and environmentally friendly waste management methods like solidification/stabilization processes, thermal desorption, and bioremediation.
 

Growing global onshore oil and gas exploration and production operations drive the drilling waste management market considerably. While energy demand keeps increasing, particularly in developing nations, increased exploration and production (E&P) projects have been witnessed. Most nations are benefiting from their onshore reserves to curb foreign energy dependence and provide domestic energy security.
 

For instance, in May 2025, Egypt's oil ministry signed five contracts with some unidentified foreign companies for crude oil exploration in the Gulf of Suez and Western Desert. The terms of the investments under the agreements, which also cover crude and gas exploration at North Damietta in the Mediterranean Sea, amount to a minimum of USD 221.23 million.
 

U.S. government-imposed trade tariffs in April 2025 will be a major influence on the sector. Tariffs on the rest of the emerging economies have been put on hold for a couple of months for political reasons. The additional import would thus increase the cost of production for American car makers, more than likely increase consumer price and create supply chain anomalies. Alternative sources or domestic manufacturing will be accessed by some industry companies as a measure of defense against such.
 

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Trends

As development advances to shale reservoirs and other unconventional reservoirs, more complicated and high-pressure drilling practices like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are employed. These practices produce greater quantities of waste than traditional vertical drilling, therefore further increasing the demand for effective waste management practices. As a reference, In April 2024, US crude oil shipment to India was almost doubled year-on-year, making it India's fourth-biggest supplier after overtaking the UAE. Rise in US shipments to India is due to declining shipments to Europe and closures of refineries, directing barrels to Asia.
 

In total, the increase in onshore drilling activities worldwide bears a direct relation to the increasing demand for drilling waste management services. With an increasing number of wells being drilled and operational complexities mounting, the value of proper waste handling is even more imperative—thus driving the market's growth.
 

Onshore drilling waste management is being driven largely by technological advancements that seek to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental performance of waste treatment processes. Emerging technologies are making it possible for more efficient separation, containment, and remediation of by-products from drilling, hence ensuring environmental compliance while maximizing operational expenditure. For instance, in April 2025, AI and advanced analytics contributed to an increase in BP’s (British Petroleum p.l.c.) production by about 4% and shielded about 10% more from shutdowns through monitoring and analysis.
 

The growing focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the oil and gas sector is significantly contributing to driving the onshore drilling waste management market. With mounting public concern over climate change, environmental damage, and depletion of resources, stakeholders such as investors, communities, and governments are calling for greater accountability from producers of energy.
 

Oil and gas operators are increasingly being pressured to prove their sustainable practices not just with respect to carbon footprint but also the manner in which they manage waste during operations. Consequently, the incorporation of sustainable waste management systems into drilling activities has emerged as a strategic imperative.
 

For instance, in September 2024, Texas suggests first new oilfield waste rules in 40 years. that has variety of disposal facilities for drilling wastes of oil & gas, ranging from pits excavated alongside drilling rigs to large facilities handling toxic waste from multiple drillers. Waste streams subject to the rule include sludge, drilling mud, cuttings and produced water.
 

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Analysis

• The market was valued at USD 2.9 billion, USD 3.2 billion and USD 3.5 billion in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively. The global market is boosted by the push from governments regulatory bodies towards lower drilling waste from oil & gas operations on long-term sustainability.
   
• Besides performance in terms of technology, most developments result in cost savings, lower environmental risk, and greater corporate social responsibility. With increased pressures from regulatory and public agencies, oil and gas producers are more likely to apply leading-edge technologies not only to meet waste management requirements but also reflect favorably on their environmental stewardship.
   
• Adoption and development of onshore drilling waste management solutions is largely stimulated by the incessant improvement of treatment and disposal methods. For instance, in November 2024, US oil and gas drilling equipment provider NOV, previously known as National Oilwell Varco, has launched a new Digital Technology Centre in Kochi Inforpark, India. The new center will feature a software engineering unit, corporate digital services and a customer support center.
   
• In contrast to offshore fields, onshore locations are usually easier and less expensive to explore and develop. As a result, more active drilling rigs and wells in countries like North America, the Middle East, and Asian-Pacific regions have been seen. Such increased drilling activity consequently results in greater amounts of drilling waste in the form of cuttings, used drilling fluids, and dirty water.
   

• The service-based market is divided into solid control, treatment & disposal, containment & handling, among others, where treatment & disposal service market cater to a revenue share of over 57.9% in 2024. This is owing to the precise government programs & initiatives to limit the discharge that harmfully impacts climate changes.
   
• Solid control services are dedicated to minimizing and controlling the amount of solid waste that is produced in drilling operations. Through the use of equipment like shale shakers, desanders, and centrifuges, solid control services remove solids from drilling fluids so that the fluids can be reused and waste reduced to a minimum. This not only decreases the cost of disposal but also is environmentally friendly. For instance, in February 2025, TWMA, a world leader in the management of drilling waste, formally began construction on its newest facility in Habshan, Abu Dhabi. The achievement sets the stage for construction of the world's most state-of-the-art, self-sustaining drilling waste management facility.
   
• Containment and handling services are meant to handle the drilling waste safely on-site without causing spills and leaks that may pose risks to the environment. The services involve the usage of containment pits, tanks, and liners for the safe storage of waste materials. Hence, these advantages are driving the onshore drilling waste management programs globally.
   
• Treatment and disposal are among the fastest emerging services in the world, entail drilling waste processing to decrease its toxicity and volume prior to final disposal. Companies are employing technologies like thermal desorption, bioremediation, and chemical treatment to efficiently treat waste that is fueling the market growth over the past few years.
   

• The U.S. market was valued at USD 600 million, USD 600 million, and USD 700 million in the year 2022, 2023, & 2024 respectively. North America, and specifically the U.S., dominates the onshore drilling waste management market across the globe. For instance, in 2024, American oil production was 13.2 million barrels per day, compared to 11.7 million in 2022. This increase has heightened the requirement for efficient waste management solutions.
   
• Europe's well-developed oil and gas sector, especially in Norway and the UK, is leading the charge in taking on state-of-the-art waste management systems. The European Union has strict regulations on the handling, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, highlighting sustainability. The EU further tightened emission standards in 2024, consistent with its goal to become net-zero by 2050. This strict regulatory framework has pushed industry toward environmentally friendly technology, such as bioremediation and waste-to-energy processes.
   
• The Asia-Pacific is witnessing strong growth in onshore drilling operations, especially in China, India, and Australia. Policies in China and India are becoming more and more focused on the protection of the environment, resulting in tightening regulations on drilling waste management and promoting the use of sophisticated technologies.
   
• The Middle East, which is characterized by some of the world's biggest hydrocarbon deposits, is also experiencing a drilling boom, fueling the need for efficient waste management technologies. Saudi Arabia has the NEOM project that seeks to attain zero waste through collaborations based on bioremediation and pyrolysis. As a reference, Joint ventures such as those in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play are co-investing in central treatment plants, cutting costs by 25–30% versus third-party contracts while upholding local regulatory compliance.
   
• Latin America is witnessing high growth in drilling operations based on rising oil and gas consumption, fueled by industrialization and economic growth. Argentina, among others, is introducing rules like Resolution 436/2021 regulating hydrocarbon waste, encouraging best waste management practices. These regulation advancements are leading to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to managing drilling waste in Latin America.
   

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Share

The top 5 companies in the onshore drilling waste management market include Baker Hughes, Halliburton, Schlumberger, TWMA, and Weatherford gathering over 30% market share. These firms have developed and invested in global networks and more active technologies and collaborated with other champions for the promotion of renewable energy.
 

The leadership of the market leader by way of relationships & contracts and their continuous industrial expansions significantly augment their market dominance in the industry. As a reference, In February 2025, TWMA has been awarded a contract which could be worth as much as USD 15 million to aid in the BP WND & END development and exploratory undertaking in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt. This contract constitutes TWMA’s first offshore exploratory venture in Egypt and indicates the increasing opportunity in the natural gas fields in the country.
 

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Market Companies

• Baker Hughes is a U.S. based manufacturing company that delivers solutions for several industrial operations. The deep global presence of the company is progressing resources through the industry position. In the year 2024, the consolidated revenue of the company was USD 7.4 billion with over 8% of Y-o-Y growth.
   
• Schlumberger is a market leader in global drilling waste management. The company's robust product portfolio is supporting market growth. The company's annual revenue for 2024 is USD 36,289 million that spans North America and International market. The primary revenue comes from the international market which has high opportunities due to the efforts of new projects.
   
• Halliburton is motivated by technological progress in the energy solution. The company has operations in nearly every part of the world and has offices in approximately 80 nations. The strong availability of market know-how is what has been propelling the company’s progress over the last few years. The company made approximately USD 5.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024.
   
• Weatherford is also amongst the top giants in the international drilling waste management industry. It is a U.S.-based company that operates in oil & gas activities with manufacturing, research & development, services etc. The company's total revenue in 2024 was USD 5.513 million and it is higher than in 2023.
   

Key market players operating across the onshore drilling waste management industry are:

• Augean Plc
• Baker Hughes
• CLEAN HARBORS, INC.
• Derrick Equipment Company
• Geminor
• GN Solids Control
• Halliburton
• Imdex Limited
• Newpark Resources Inc.
• NOV Inc.
• Ridgeline Canada Inc.
• Schlumberger
• Secure Energy Services, Inc.
• SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS.
• Soli-Bond, Inc.
• TWMA
• Weatherford
   

Onshore Drilling Waste Management Industry News

• In February 2024, TWMA on the Nordic ABM in Oslo, launched a sustainability-linked bond by raising over USD 62 million. The proceeds will be used to fund the company's growth in large projects in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Middle East, and British Continental Shelf. This strategic funding will enhance TWMA's market leadership in onshore drilling waste management offerings.
   
• In June 2024, Weatherford International plc is awarded a new five-year agreement with Bahrain-based Bapco Upstream, a unit of Bapco Energies, to provide logging, and directional drilling while drilling services to replace the existing drilling services agreement weatherford was awarded in 2015.
   
• In December 2023, GN Solids America initiated the provision of drilling waste management equipment designed specifically for end-users within the European market. The system involves various elements that are linked to the drilling waste management solution.
   
• In October 2024, Drilling waste management specialist TWMA won a significant contract with one of the leading UAE operators. Valued at approximately USD 70 million, the first-ever contract indicates TWMA's capability to support large energy projects globally and extends its regional foothold further.
   

This onshore drilling waste management market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Service

• Solid control
• Containment & handling
• Treatment & disposal
• Others

The above information has been provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Italy
• Aisa Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina