煤炭地下气化(UCG)作为变革性的采煤技术，是我国低碳高效煤炭能源结构转型方向的重要选择，也是为保障我国碳达峰、碳中和(“双碳”)目标顺利实现而可探索的潜在重要途径。通过文献调研，梳理了澳大利亚UCG技术探索历程，依据现场试验案例分析探讨了澳大利亚UCG技术探索的得失，其中的经验可为我国UCG技术发展提供借鉴。结果显示，澳大利亚UCG技术探索可追索到20世纪70年代，随后开展了长达15年的UCG现场试验，先后启动3个UCG示范工程，成功实施了迄今为止在前苏联之外最大规模的现场示范；尽管探索历程“一波三折”，但UCG技术进步显著，相关成就为全球UCG产业化努力做出了示范。澳大利亚UCG技术探索与发展历程显示：引入民间资本是支撑费用巨大的UCG技术研发及现场试验的可行途径，充分考察并借鉴全球经验可使UCG现场试验少走弯路，利用合成气生产多元化最终产品是UCG产业发展的重要方向。在工程技术方面：钻井设计及工程质量是确保UCG炉安全高效运行的关键，尤其是固井材料选择应考虑井壁受热产生的收缩膨胀性能；纯氧注入装置应设计自动跳闸系统以保证UCG生产安全，整体工程任何环节都需要严格保证气化炉及其管线密封质量，前期UCG地质评价与选址十分必要；UCG设计需要综合考虑各方面因素，确保在单炉滚动式投产基础上实现气化区炉井最佳配置。同时，系统而详细的产业政策建设是推进UCG产业化的基本保障，企业与政府主管部门事前沟通充分程度往往决定着UCG项目的成败。

Underground coal gasification (UCG), which is a revolutionary coal mining technology, is an important direction for achieving a low-carbon and efficient coal energy structure in China and is also a potential explorable way to ensure the smooth realization of the peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality in China. Based on a literature survey, this study sorts out the exploration process of UCG technologies in Australia and analyzes the gains and losses using field test cases. The experience in UCG technologies in Australia can provide a reference for the development of the technologies in China. The results show that the exploration of UCG technologies in Australia can date from the 1970s, followed by UCG field experiments for up to 15 years. As a result, three UCG demonstration projects have been launched in sequence, including the largest, successfully implemented on-site demonstration project outside the former Soviet Union to date. Despite several twists and turns, significant progress has been made, and relevant achievements act as models of global UCG industrialization. The exploration and development of UCG (research and development) technologies in Australia demonstrate that it is feasible to introduce nongovernmental capital to support the costly R&D and field tests of UCG technologies. Moreover, the risks of UCG field tests can be reduced by fully investigating and referencing global experience. According to the experience, an important development direction of the UCG industry is to produce diversified final products using syngas. Regarding engineering technologies, the drilling design and engineering quality are the key to the reliable operation of a UCG gasifier. In particular, materials for well cementing should be determined given the heating-induced shrinkage and expansion of borehole walls. Moreover, the pure oxygen injection device should be equipped with an automatic tripping system to ensure safe UCG production, the sealing performance of a gasifier and its pipelines should be strictly guaranteed in each link of the entire UCG engineering, and it is necessary to conduct geological evaluation and siting in the early stage. Furthermore, various factors should be comprehensively taken into account in the UCG design to ensure the optimal configuration of gasifier-associated wells in the gasification area based on the single-gasifier rolling production. Meanwhile, the development of systematic and detailed industrial policies is the basic guarantee to promote UCG industrialization, and the degree of the prior communication between enterprises and government departments in charge tends to determine the success or failure of UCG projects.