Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network

A method of creating or enhancing a fracture network in a subterranean formation penetrated by a well in multiple stages, the method comprising:

• (a) monitoring net pressure in the well while pumping into the formation a first fluid stage comprising a pad fluid or slickwater;
• (b) pumping fracturing fluid in multiple stages into multiple fractures after step (a) and determining the bottomhole pressure in the well after each stage, wherein each stage is separated by a period of reduced or suspended pumping for a time sufficient for the fluid in said each stage to flow into a fracture of differing directional orientation;
• (c) determining stress in the well in between stages by comparing the bottomhole pressure in the well with a pre-determined bottomhole pressure;
• (d) after determining stress in the well, altering the stress by injecting a fracturing fluid into the well at a rate different from the injection rate of a previous stage;
• (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the bottomhole pressure in the well is at least equal to a pre-determined bottomhole pressure.