If I see oil barrels in a fight, I pick them up and send them to Lady vengeance. If I'm sneaking around to get into position, I pick the barrels up so I can use them against the enemy or just get rid of them.
Also, if I get oiled, I polymorph/cloak and dagger away if possible because I know I'm probably about to get set on fire.
Also battle stomp gets rid of surfaces.
And TIL you can teleport those noxious bulbs around, that is cool.