ConocoPhillips gets OK to expand Sahtu fracking

The Sahtu Land and Water Board has given ConocoPhillips the go-ahead to expand its fracking operation near Norman Wells.

• ConocoPhillips seeks to expand fracking camp in the Sahtu

The approval comes less than two months after ConocoPhillips applied to build a year-round camp for 325 people on an access road to its fracking operation.

The company already hasa 150-person, winter-only camp further up the access road.

It was also authorized to take an additional 9,000 cubic metres of water each year from the Mackenzie River to supply the new camp.

The board also gave ConocoPhillips permission to store an additional 488,000 litres of fuel on the site.