System, method, and composition for controlling fracture growth

A method of controlling a vertical growth of at least one fracture in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

• pumping a first fracturing fluid or slurry of a first specific gravity into said subterranean formation, wherein the first fracturing fluid or slurry has a fracture gradient higher than a formation fracture gradient;
• receiving an information comprising at least one of:
• (a) a surface and/or a downhole pressure and a temperature information indicating a fracture growth rate and a fracture growth direction, and (b) a surface and/or a downhole real time seismic information indicating the fracture growth rate and the fracture growth direction;
• varying a density of the first fracturing fluid or slurry in dependence on the information so as to vary the fracture growth direction, whereby the fracture growth direction in which at least one fracture is growing is changed to a second direction during pumping;
• and,
• pumping a second fracturing fluid or slurry of a second specific gravity into said subterranean formation, wherein the specific gravity of the second fracturing fluid or slurry is different from the specific gravity of the first fracturing fluid or slurry, wherein the specific gravity of the second fracturing fluid or slurry is higher than the specific gravity of the first fracturing fluid or slurry, thereby controlling the fracture growth direction of the at least one fracture in a downward direction.