Methods and systems for enhancing oil recovery are disclosed. A method for enhancing oil recovery in a formation includes placing a catalyst in a wellbore; and introducing an oxidizing agent into the wellbore to contact the catalyst such that a hydrocarbon in the formation is oxidized to produce heat and at least one gas. A system for enhancing oil recovery in a reservoir formation includes a catalyst arranged within a well adjacent the reservoir formation; and an oxidizing agent for engaging the catalyst, the oxidizing agent adapted to generate heat and at least one gas when engaging the catalyst and oxidizing a hydrocarbon. The oxidizing agent may be air or oxygen. The catalyst may be one selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, lead, manganese, nickel and metal oxides thereof. Further, the catalyst may be in the form of nanoparticles.