Abstract: From a time value of revenue point of view, it is preferred that the time between reservoir stimulation and oil production response is small. Heavy oil combustion processes have a lag time between air injection and liquid production, but the common practice in production data analysis uses simultaneous injection and production data when seeking a relationship between them. In this research, the time scales of production for the Kerrobert toe-to-heel air injection (THAI) heavy oil project in Saskatchewan, Canada, is analyzed by using cross correlation analysis, i.e. time delay analysis between air injection and oil production. The results reveal two time scales with respect to production response with two distinctive recovery mechanisms: (1) a short time scale response (nearly instantaneous) where oil production peaks right after air injection (directly after opening production well) reflecting cold heavy oil production mechanisms, and (2) a longer time scale (of order of 100–300 days) response where peak production occurs associated with the collective phenomena of air injection, heat generating reactions, heat transfer, and finally, heated mobilized heavy oil drainage to the production well. This understanding of the two time scales and associated production mechanisms provides a basis for improving the performance of THAI.