Oilzapper: Turning Oil Pollution into Opportunity

Oil spills and oily sludge have long posed serious environmental and operational challenges for the oil and gas industry. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, initiated a programme on Petroleum Biotechnology in 1992, under which several research projects were sanctioned. As part of a DBT-funded project, TERI commenced work in 1993 on the selection of indigenous microbial strains for the bioremediation of oil spills. Following approximately seven years of extensive research and development, TERI successfully identified a robust consortium of microbes, designated as “Oilzapper,” in 2000. This consortium demonstrated the capability to degrade a wide range of crude oil components under both laboratory and field conditions. Oilzapper, an innovative technology developed by TERI, offers a powerful, eco-friendly solution that works with nature to restore contaminated environments.

Unlike conventional disposal methods that require costly containment pits and valuable land, Oilzapper enables on-site bioremediation—eliminating waste at its source. At its core is a unique consortium of naturally occurring microbes, carefully formulated to break down hydrocarbons present in crude oil and oily sludge. Through their natural metabolic processes, these microbes convert harmful pollutants into harmless end-products such as water and fatty acids.

The result is a cleaner, safer, and faster remediation process. Oilzapper can treat heavily contaminated soils (up to 20% oil content) within just 3–5 months, significantly reducing environmental risks, fire hazards, and groundwater contamination. From reclaiming contaminated agricultural land to restoring polluted water bodies, the technology has helped revive ecosystems and support livelihoods.

Trusted by leading organisations such as ONGC, IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, OIL India, Reliance, KOC, and ADNOC, Oilzapper has been deployed across India and internationally. To date, it has successfully treated over 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated soil, including large-scale projects in Kuwait and multiple sites across India.

Commercialised through ONGC TERI Biotech Ltd. (OTBL), Oilzapper is produced at TERI’s advanced fermentation facility in Gurugram, ensuring quality and scalability.

Sustainable, proven, and globally impactful, Oilzapper is redefining how we address oil pollution.