Abstract: The research progress of heavy oil recovery by aquathermolysis is reviewed this paper, mainly from the aspects of aquathermolytic reactions, the catalytic reactions is the mechanism of these reactions, and the field application of recovering heavy oil by aquathermolysis. At the same time, the research results and the future of aquathermolysis are discussed. It is addressed that the aquathermolysis, a new method to recover heavy oil commercially and efficiently, has very high potential value. At present, the research in recovering heavy oil by aquathermolysis has been directed more towards study in investigating more characteristics and effects of high temperature water, examining the aquathermolytic behavior of special components of a wider range of heavy oil samples by choosing proper model compound or other methods, then establishing a protocol of thermodynamics and kinetics models of these components, so as to design the aquathermolytic reactions and screening crucial catalysts which can accelerate the visbreaking reactions to upgrade the heavy oil. The key research work is still developing a series cheaper catalysts with higher activity and selectivity, accordingly with lower sensitivity to the aquathermolytic conditions for different heavy oils, screening or developing some additives with good synergistic effects, eventually, projecting the field applied techniques.