This article proceeded from the basic principle of heat insulation coating. Based on the mechanism of heat insulation and insulation, heat insulation coatings can be divided into three different types, i. e. , blocking, reflecting and radiating. Mechanisms of heat insulation of the three types of heat insulation coatings were briefly introduced, the application status of heat insulation coatings was summarized. Combining the problems existing in the thermal recovery of heavy oil in the oil industry and the work requirements on the surface of oil tubing, an application idea of using an inorganic and efficient heat insulation coating that overlaid on the surface of the insulated tubing was proposed, the development trend of heat insulation coatings was summarized. In the end, the development direction of the heat insulation coating was forecasted, and the problems and deficiencies in development researches of heat insulation coatings were pointed out