Abstract: In situ combutiom (ISC) technology of heavy oil and oil sand reservoirs presents low cost, high utilization rate of thermal energy and high recovery rate. currently,it is deemed a technical research hotspot in heavy oil and oil sands development. Based on technical investigations, combustion principles and types, technical characteristics of conventional ISC were summarized and analyzed in this paper. The latest research on ISC, oil displacement principles of ISC, well patterns, applicability, advantages and disadvantages of the technology, and engineering difficulties were introduced in detail. These technologies include COFCAW, THAI, COGD, CAGD, and SAGDOX. The studies suggested that the innovation research of ISC technology mainly focused on well pattern and integration with other projects and well stimulation measures. As a result, it had no such technical difficulties as in traditional ISC, which promoted its rapid development and field application. On the other hand, it could integrate the technical characteristics of steam injection method and in-situ combustion method to improve oil displacement effects and heavy oil and oil sands reservoir recovery efficiency. The innovation and development of ISC technology would provide guidance in the exploitation of heavy oil in oil sands in China and also provide technical references for the subsequent technology reserve and innovation of ISC.