Abstract: An aqueous composition is provided, suitable for direct use in waterflood oil recovery processes, which comprises the clarified fermentation fluid obtained by(a) culturing a polysaccharide-producing microorganism in an aqueous culture medium to produce an aqueous culture containing dissolved polysaccharide therein; and(b) clarifying the resultant aqueous culture from (a) by at least one of centrifugation and filtration, introducing therein at least one bactericidal agent, and recovering the resultant clarified fermentation fluid;said aqueous composition being obtained without precipitation and recovery of a solid polysaccharide and dissolution thereof in an aqueous medium.The above composition can be pumped into oil formations without substantial clogging thereof.