Abstract: Up to now,the mandrel pipe mill has been used as the main type of pipe mills in domestic seamless steel tube-making circles. similarities and differences between mandrel pipe mill at home and abroad are analyzed,involving such issues as determination of type of the billet heating furnace,the combined and separate arrange-ments of the extracting/sizing process. It is proposed as a concept that a guide section be incorporated with the retained mandrel in a bid to reduce the operation costs. Also proposed are some ideas with respect to saving energies and improving product quality via such techniques as material hot-charging and hot-conveying,and controlling of cooling condition,etc. At last,it is emphasized that for billet heating for the mandrel pipe mill,the rotary hearth furnace should not be regarded as the only choice.