Pressure-resistant hole drilling: Keeping the energy arteries beating continuously during the "operation"On a natural gas main pipe operating at over 100 atmospheres of pressure, engineers are preparing to perform a "heart bypass surgery", while the medium inside the pipe is still surging at a speed of several meters per second - this is not a science fiction scene, but a daily application of modern pressure-bearing opening technology. When the gas pipelines in a city need to be connected with new branches, or when the gathering and transportation hub of an oil field has to replace its aging valves, the traditional operation methods often result in large-scale pipeline shutdowns: factories cease production, residents' lives are affected, and huge economic losses are incurred daily. The pressure-bearing hole opening technology has completely changed this situation. It enables the completion of pipeline renovation, maintenance and connection operations safely and accurately without interrupting the normal operation of the pipeline. 01 Technological Evolution: From Risk Operations to Intelligent Construction The pressure-opening technology was originally developed as a high-risk operation to address emergency repairs of pipelines. The early technology relied on simple mechanical devices and the experience of operators, with a low level of safety redundancy. With the large-scale construction of long-distance pipelines, especially high-pressure oil and gas pipelines, there have been revolutionary demands for the efficiency and safety of pipeline maintenance and repair. The traditional shutdown operation method has failed to meet the economic and continuous requirements of modern industry. This demand has led to rapid technological advancements. The industry began to develop specialized equipment such as opening machines and sealing devices. Nowadays, this technology has evolved from passive emergency repairs to an all-round active intelligent construction system covering pipeline relocation, station renovation, and branch connection. 02 Core Principles: The Art of Balance and Sealing The reason why the pressure-bearing hole-making technology can operate safely on "chaotic" pipelines lies in two core physical principles: pressure balance and multiple seals. The entire process begins by welding a specially designed branch pipe fitting (usually a saddle-shaped three-way fitting) onto the pipeline. Then, the hole-making machine is installed onto this pipe fitting. The key to the operation lies in the fact that the special drill bit (cylinder cutter) equipped on the hole-making machine is designed with a hollow shaft at its center. Before penetrating the pipe wall, the cavity of the cutting machine is connected to the interior of the pipe through the valve and pressurized to achieve dynamic pressure balance between the inside and outside of the cavity. At this point, the valve is opened, and the drill bit advances slowly in a balanced state. The cut-off pipe wall material (piece) will be firmly fixed by the central axis and then removed. Throughout the entire process, the medium inside the pipeline was perfectly isolated from the sealing system, achieving a "zero leakage" operation. 03 Intelligent Upgrade: Integration of Perception, Decision-making and Execution The "intelligent" essence of modern pressure-bearing hole opening technology is reflected in the automation of perception, decision-making and execution throughout the entire operation process. At the perception level, the system integrates a large number of high-precision sensors to conduct real-time collection and monitoring of key parameters such as pressure, temperature, torque, feed speed, and vibration at millisecond levels. During an operation in a high-pressure and high-sulfur environment in the Northwest Oilfield, it was the abnormal rise in the pressure curve displayed on the monitoring screen that enabled the technicians to promptly detect fluctuations in the upstream gas source and activate the contingency plan to mitigate the risks. At the decision-making level, intelligent systems can issue graded warnings for abnormal data based on preset safety thresholds and algorithm models. For instance, the intelligent casing monitoring system can predict mechanical failures by analyzing fluctuations in the opening and closing angles and clamping force of the casing, serving as a "24-hour security guard". At the operational level, automated equipment is gradually replacing manual operations that are demanding in terms of intensity and risk. Sinopec has developed a new patent for an integrated device that can incorporate drilling, sealing, and sealing components into one unit. Through program control, it can automatically switch between functions, significantly reducing the need for manual disassembly and assembly, and enhancing efficiency and safety. 04 Key Equipment, The Concrete Carrier of Technological Innovation The leap in intelligent technology cannot be achieved without the core innovations in the underlying equipment. These innovations mainly focus on reliability, lightweight design, and functional integration. Innovations in the hole-making machine and cutting tools: To meet the requirements of high-strength pipeline steels such as X80, the hole-making tools adopt high-strength hard alloy with a special angle and tooth division structure, and use military-grade welding technology to fundamentally prevent "tool breakage" and "teeth falling off" faults, ensuring smooth hole-making. At the same time, the equipment is developing towards lightweight design, using lightweight alloy bodies and compact designs, making it easy to be quickly deployed. Breakthrough in plugging and sealing technology: The reliability of plugging directly determines the safety of subsequent hot work operations. The innovation has replaced the traditional lip-type seal with a multi-layer lined sealing cup optimized based on fluid mechanics simulation, and a dedicated debris sweeping device has been installed on the plugging head to prevent iron filings from scratching the sealing components, ensuring a "tight seal" under high pressure. Essentially safe design of pipe fittings: The "plug" components that remain permanently in the pipeline after the operation, have their structure upgraded from the "external clamp type" prone to leakage to the "internal clamp type". This structure, which uses internal clamping plates for locking, eliminates the leakage points of traditional lock pins and lock rings, achieving the design of "leak-free" pipe fittings. 05 Cutting-edge Applications, From Oil and Gas to Diverse Fields Currently, the intelligent pressure-controlled perforation technology is expanding from traditional oil and gas pipelines to a wider range of industrial sectors, addressing specific challenges in various industries. In the deep operation field of oil and gas fields: The electric control and fishing integrated blocking device independently developed by Bohai Drilling represents the highest level of intelligence in downhole pressurized operations. Operators can simply press the electric control button on the ground to command the tools several thousand meters downhole to precisely complete the setting and fishing operations, reducing the construction period by an average of 20% and increasing the one-time success rate to over 98%. In the field of coal mine gas control: In response to the gas spouting disasters that may be triggered by under-pressure drilling in the underground, intelligent hierarchical prevention and control technology has emerged. This technology, through an automatic control system, in combination with specialized prevention and control devices and sealing procedures, has achieved active intervention in the disasters. In the Huainan mining area, it successfully achieved the goal of zero gas over-limit during drilling. In the field of urban buildings and pipelines: Intelligent technology is presented in another form. The intelligent drilling robot for building mechanical and electrical installation integrates visual positioning and steel bar avoidance systems, and can replace high-risk manual operations in dangerous high-altitude and dusty environments. The saddle-shaped pipe fittings with switch functions applicable to municipal pipelines have achieved the integration of hole drilling and the on-off control of branch routes. 06 Core Value: The Integration of Safety, Economy and Environmental Protection The vigorous development of intelligent pressure-controlled hole-opening technology stems from its multi-dimensional core value for industrial operations, achieving an organic integration of safety, economy and environmental protection.