a method for treating a subterranean formation comprising measuring mechanical properties of a formation comprising young &# 39 ; s modulus , poisson &# 39 ; s ratio , and in - situ stress ; determining formation fracture height based on the mechanical properties ; estimating number and location of hydraulic fractures based on the determining ; identifying hydraulic fracturing treatment stages based on the estimating ; and performing hydraulic fracturing treatments in the stages . a method for treating a subterranean formation comprising measuring mechanical properties of a formation comprising young &# 39 ; s modulus , poisson &# 39 ; s ratio , and in - situ stress ; determining a target zone based on the mechanical properties ; estimating number and location of hydraulic fractures based on the determining ; identifying hydraulic fracturing treatment stages based on the estimating ; and performing hydraulic fracturing treatments in the stages .