Addition of oleophilic fertilizers on the sites expedited the biodegradation of petrol, thus cleaning the toxic site in a year, which would have otherwise taken several years. In recent years, however, using genetic engineering, oil utilizing microorganisms have been successfully produced, which would grow rapidly on oil.

These genetically modified strains could not be tested in the field for removing the oil, due to the debate concerning the release of genetically engineered microorganisms in an open environment.

Many oil utilizing microorganisms may also produce surface active compounds that can emulsify oil in water and thus facilitate removal of oil. A strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been developed by Ananda Chakrabarty at University of Illionis, Chicago (USA), which produces a glycolipid emulsifier, that reduces the surface tension of an oil water interface and thus helps in removal of oil from water.

This microbial emulsifier is non toxic and biodegradable, thus being ecologically sound. It was demonstrated by laboratory experiments that this microbial surfactant releases oil to an extent of 2 to 3 times that by water alone. Thus it has the potential for future use, whenever its release is allowed.