This appears to be a circular pool of oil roughly 200 meters in diameter in the Korpedje Oil Fields of eastern Turkmenistan near Korpedje 252. It has reportedly been spewing forth fire, smoke and steam [and other toxics one might guess] since some time in 2002. A photograph at ground level seems to show oil roiling at the surface suggesting an active upwelling of oil. Some attempt to dike the pool can be seen in that photo. The satellite view suggests that oil may be seeping out from the North East side of the pool.



This photo is from a photo post by an oil field trainee at >>> http://mervynleong.fotopages.com/?entry=203628

Wow, Barn, that's an amazing find and looks quite ominous from GE. Great photo, too. Don't you love it when you match up the two? No sign of a large-scale effort to take the oil out of the pool (no equipment around it), but as you say, just containing it. But, I don't know how these things work...maybe there is some reason they don't use the oil.

Diane

great find-photo alignment!
turn your NASA-earth city lights layer ON and easily will find more oil sites on that coast.
one some similar to your find being in (or just next to) an oil lake can be seen at 38.330885°, 54.028358°
this one and the others seem to show some more equipped processes.
cu,
g