In situ combustion or fire flooding is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique designed to produce heavy oils and bitumen. This method involves the in-place heating and combustion of hydrocarbons, resulting in reduced viscosity and increased mobility for improved flow toward the production wellbore. Despite its potential, widespread commercial implementation of in situ combustion has been hindered due to technical and economic challenges like inadequate project design and improper reservoir selection. This literature review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of in situ combustion by addressing its principles, historical development, combustion processes, underlying kinetics, and testing methods. Additionally, the review tackles existing gaps in the literature, as well as the challenges associated with modeling and implementation in field applications. It also suggests solutions drawn from historical field experiences of the technology. Finally, the review paper proposes comprehensive screening guidelines derived from various literature sources for the implementation of in situ combustion. This framework underscores the technique’s potential for efficient and sustainable hydrocarbon extraction, shaping its future as a transformative enhanced oil recovery technology.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are crucial for tapping into difficult-to-produce heavy oil deposits. Among these, in-situ combustion (ISC) has demonstrated potential economic and environmental advantages over energy-intensive thermal techniques, such as steam-assisted gravity drainage. A promising variant of ISC, known as toe-to-heel air injection (THAI), offers the potential for greater efficiency and more sustained results compared with conventional ISC. Although pilot attempts in Canada have faced challenges, THAI remains an underexplored method that, with further refinement and research, could unlock new opportunities in thermal recovery. With this paper, we propose an innovative advancement in the THAI process, introducing dynamic interval air injection (DIAI), a technology that leverages dynamic air injection intervals. The approach optimizes the progression of the combustion front, significantly improving overall recovery efficiency within the THAI framework. Using kinetic upscaling, we validated laboratory- and field-scale models against data from the literature. The verified model was then used to investigate the performance of the DIAI configuration featuring a single horizontal injector/producer wellbore with dynamically shifting air injection intervals. The results demonstrated a 2.6-fold increase in oil displacement and a 15% reduction in cumulative oxygen production/breakthrough compared with the state-of-the-art THAI configuration. While complete combustion front advancement was not fully observed, the heat generated effectively mobilized oil toward the producer, indicating technical promise. These findings highlight the potential of dynamic air injection to enhance oil recovery and suggest further studies to optimize timing intervals for maximum efficiency.