Liaohe Oilfield is one of China's major heavy oil production bases, where extensive networks of small and medium-diameter gathering and flowline piping operate under continuous thermal load. As these pipelines age, traditional insulation materials such as alumina silicate wool progressively lose performance — the fiber structure compacts, moisture absorption increases, and thermal conductivity rises well above the original design value. For a DN114 pipeline, this typically shows up as rising surface temperature, higher linear heat loss, and increased energy cost per meter of pipe, long before any visible damage appears on the outer cladding.
This is the scenario Nano Tech was brought in to solve: an aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit on an existing DN114 line at Liaohe Oilfield, replacing degraded alumina silicate wool without a full pipeline shutdown or redesign of the piping system.
Replacing an entire pipeline section is expensive and operationally disruptive. In most oilfield retrofit scenarios, the pipe itself and its supports are still structurally sound — it is the insulation layer that has failed. An aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit addresses this directly: the existing alumina silicate wool is stripped and replaced with a thinner, higher-performance aerogel blanket, using the same pipe supports and cladding structure wherever possible. This keeps the retrofit scope — and the associated downtime — to a minimum, which is typically the deciding factor for oilfield maintenance teams working within a limited shutdown window.
Pipe diameter: DN114
Original insulation: Alumina silicate wool, 80mm
Retrofit material: FMA650 Aerogel Blanket, 50mm
Application: Oilfield gathering/flowline pipeline, in-service reconstruction
Nano Tech's FMA650 aerogel blanket was selected for this aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit for three practical reasons that matter specifically on small-diameter oilfield piping:
Thickness reduction: 50mm of FMA650 replaced 80mm of alumina silicate wool — a 37.5% reduction in insulation thickness while improving thermal performance, which matters on DN114 piping where clearance in pipe racks and support spacing is often tight.
Temperature range and stability: FMA650 is rated for -50°C to +650°C, well beyond the operating range of this application, giving the customer margin against seasonal and process temperature swings without needing a different material for summer/winter conditions.
Hydrophobic protection: With a hydrophobic rate of ≥99% and volumetric water absorption ≤1%, FMA650 resists the moisture ingress that is the leading cause of corrosion under insulation (CUI) — a known failure mode for aging alumina silicate wool systems in humid or condensation-prone oilfield environments.
The customer independently commissioned and produced the test report for this retrofit — the results below are third-party verified, not internal marketing figures:
Energy saving rate: 38.5%
Linear heat loss reduction: 70 W/m
Insulation thickness reduced from 80mm to 50mm
For a DN114 gathering line, a 70 W/m reduction in heat loss compounds significantly across kilometers of pipeline network, translating directly into lower fuel/steam consumption for line heating and a measurable drop in operating cost per year — the type of figure oilfield operators can take directly into an energy audit or ESG reporting cycle.
This retrofit logic — strip old insulation, install a thinner high-performance aerogel layer, keep the same structural framework — applies across most small and medium-diameter oilfield piping under similar conditions: wellhead connection piping, gathering station manifolds, and flowlines where alumina silicate wool, rock wool, or composite silicate insulation has been in service for 5+ years. If your project involves aging insulation on pipe diameters from DN50 to DN300, the same aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit approach is directly transferable, with material thickness adjusted to your specific temperature and diameter conditions.
Nano Tech, founded in 2004, is China's earliest and largest developer of nanoporous aerogel thermal insulation materials, operating a 32,000 sqm production facility with an annual output of 8 million square meters of aerogel material. The company is a key contributor to China's National Standard for Reinforced Nanoporous Aerogel Products for Thermal Insulation and holds 28 invention patents and 6 utility model patents in aerogel composite technology.
For export and retrofit projects, FMA650 is compliant with both Chinese GB/T standards (GB/T 10294, 10295, 10299, 17911, 5480, 34336, among others) and international ASTM standards (ASTM C1728, C165, C356, C795, C1101/1101M, C1104/1104M, C1338, C1617, C1763, E84, E96) — allowing the same material to meet documentation requirements on both domestic and international oilfield projects. Nano Tech is also certified under Quality Management System, Environmental Management System, and Occupational Health and Safety Management System standards.
Can FMA650 be used for an aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit without shutting down the entire pipeline?
Yes. Because FMA650 is a flexible blanket rather than a rigid preformed section, it can typically be installed section-by-section during scheduled maintenance windows, without requiring a full pipeline shutdown in most cases — the exact approach depends on your operating pressure and safety protocol.
Do I need to replace the outer cladding when retrofitting with FMA650?
In most cases the existing cladding can be reused if it is structurally intact, since FMA650's reduced thickness (50mm vs. 80mm alumina silicate wool in this project) often creates spare clearance rather than requiring a larger cladding diameter.
Can this solution be customized for pipe diameters other than DN114?
Yes. FMA650 thickness and cut dimensions are customizable to match your specific pipe diameter and temperature conditions — Nano Tech provides a heat-loss analysis based on your working conditions before recommending a thickness.
What is the minimum order quantity for a retrofit project?
Standard MOQ is 4 rolls per pallet, with sample orders available for pre-project testing. Lead time is typically 7-12 working days for standard specifications.
If your oilfield pipeline network is showing signs of insulation degradation — rising surface temperature, visible cladding damage, or increasing fuel/steam cost per meter — Nano Tech can provide a heat-loss analysis and aerogel pipeline insulation retrofit proposal based on your specific pipe diameter and operating conditions. Contact us for a technical consultation.
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