A large amount of oil-based drilling cuttings is produced during deep oil exploration and unconventional oil and gas development, such as shale gas and tight gas. Thermal desorption technology is considered as the most effective technology for environmental protection treatment of waste oil-based drilling cuttings, and also an effective way to realize the resource utilization of oil-based drilling cuttings. This paper mainly introduces the typically advanced technology, equipment and application of thermal desorption of oil-based drill cuttings. In view of the complex and variable nature and composition of oil-based drilling cuttings, the complex pyrolysis chemical reaction process, the high energy consumption of thermal desorption equipment, the uncertain pyrolysis temperature, unstable and inhomogeneous feeding material, it is suggested to carry out investigation of continuous desorption dynamics and mechanism of the complex oil-based drilling cuttings system in the moving bed, establish the dynamic model, and define the optimal thermal desorption parameters for different components of oil-based drilling cuttings; meanwhile, establish the evaluation system and criteria of technical and economic benefits, environmental benefits and sustainable development, providing scientific and reliable basis and theoretical support for high efficiency, low consumption, safety and environmental protection thermal desorption of oil-based drilling cuttings in different systems.