节能被称为“第五能源”，而保温则是影响节能的关键因素，油田是高产能大户的同时也是高耗能大户，我国石油石化企业年消耗保温材料占全国总消耗量的１／４左右，因此输油管道的保温技术在输油领域尤为重要。石油普遍具有凝固点高、化学成分复杂、高黏度、低流动性等特点，在输送过程中，由于热量的散失，温度逐渐降低，极易造成液体内的蜡析出，使原本高黏度的原油的流动性更低，可造成管线结垢、凝管、堵塞等现象，进而甚至停产。因此确保输送过程中原油温度在一定范围内，提高管内液体的流动性，需要制备具有保温功能的复合管道，以控制管道内热量的流失，使流体保持在其结蜡点以上，具有较高的流动性，进而保证管线的正常运行。目前，针对输油管道保温技术问题的解决主要有２种方法，一是研发制备具有高隔热性能的新材料；二是优化保温管道的结构，降低整个管道系统的导热率。在油气能源紧张的今天，为保证石油行业的发展，研发新型的保温材料和管道保温结构势在必行，成为国内外保温领域的热门课题。本文从保温材料出发并进行分类阐述，同时通过对各类保温输油管道结构的分析，系统介绍了石油管道保温技术的研究及应用进展。
Abstract：The technical status and application research progress of various insulation materials andinsulation pipe structures in China and abroad were reviewed;The thermal insulation properties，mechanical properties and microstructure of different thermal insulation materials were analyzed，including solid insulation materials，inorganic and organic foam materials，composite insulationmaterials and phase change energy storage materials;introduced the processing technology andstructural design of oil pipelines of various structures，including tube tube structure，single walltube，technical tube system and composite insulation hose.The application and development of thematerials and structures of the current insulated pipelines were discussed.