The invention provides an isolated bacterial strain selected from the group of bacterial strains deposited under accession number ECACC 15010609; ECACC 15010601; ECACC 15010602; ECACC 15010603; ECACC 15010604; ECACC 15010605; ECACC 15010606; ECACC 15010607; ECACC 15010608; and a bacterial strain having all the identifying characteristics of one or more of the strains. The use of said bacterial strains in a method of treating an oil reservoir, a method of bioremediation and a method for the production of a biosurfactant-like substance is also provided. The invention still further provides a biosurfactant-like substance so obtained and the use thereof in method of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and a method of environmental remediation.