Method of fracturing a subterranean formation at optimized and pre-determined conditions

1. A method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation by introducing a transport fluid containing a proppant into a fracture of defined generalized geometry within the formation, the method comprising:

(a) determining the difference in specific gravity between the proppant and the transport fluid, ΔSG PS , as defined by SG prop −SG fluid , for the desired propped fracture length, D PST , in accordance with Equation (I):

ΔSG PS =( A )×(1 /q i )×( D PST ) B ×(1 /C TRANS )×(1 /d 2 prop )×(μ fluid )  (I)

wherein:

SG prop is the specific gravity of the proppant;

SG fluid is the specific gravity of the transport fluid;

A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry;

q i is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft;

C TRANS is the transport coefficient;

d prop is the median proppant diameter, in mm.; and

μ fluid is the apparent viscosity of the transport fluid, in cP;

(b) introducing the transport fluid into the formation; and

(c) subjecting the formation to hydraulic fracturing and creating fractures in the formation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proppant is an ultra lightweight (ULW) proppant.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transport fluid is slickwater.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fracture geometry has a 1:1 to 5:1 aspect ratio.