varied to achieve this result in known ways the vibratory motion of the screen 12 propels the cuttings particles down the incline and agitates the particles to remove oil and other hydrocarbons and wash solution from the particles satisfactory results are achieved when the particles are retained on the vibrating screen 12 until their moisture content is less than about ten percent by weight as the particles are exposed to the wash solution a low moisture content indicates that hydrocarbon contaminants have also been substantially removed from the particles as the particles approach the lower edge 13 of the screen 12 the vibratory motion of the screen 12 pitches the particles onto the screen 14 adjacent the upper edge of the screen 14 here the process of washing the particles with a spray of washing solution and agitating the particles to remove wash solution and hydrocarbons is repeated washed cuttings particles are propelled off of the lower edge of the screen 14 into the ocean or may otherwise be disposed it should be noted that a single shaker with one longer vibrating screen could be employed while still using two sets of nozzles and two separate wash solutions with such an apparatus it would merely be necessary to divide the screen into two separate treatment zones by placement of the two sets of nozzles and tanks again the screen would have to be long enough to.