ConocoPhillips seeks to expand fracking camp in the Sahtu

ConocoPhillipswants to build a bigger camp and draw more water than originally planned at it'sfrackingoperation in theSahtu.

The company is licensed for a 150-person camp 7 kilometres from the Mackenzie River along its all-season access road.

Its applying to expand that camp to hold up to 425 people.

Conocoalso wants to take more water from the Mackenzie River an additional 9,000 cubic metres annually, up from the 6,500 cubic metres its currently authorized to use.

The first horizontal fracking project in the Northwest Territories has had a troubled start.

ConocoPhillipsfrackingprogram in theSahturegion has so far seenthree chemical and sewage spills, a sudden release of 2,700 cubic meters of water from a holding pond that gave out, andinjured one worker.

Earlier this month a federal inspector toured the site and reported that Conoco was meeting the terms of its licence.

Details of the proposed expansion can be seen on theSahtuLand and Water Board's public registry.

TheBoard will decide the next steps in the approval process based on the comments it receives.

Today is the last day for the public to comment on its plans.