Improved methods and systems for hydrocarbon production, including operations involving ballooned hydraulic fractures and complex toe-to-heel flooding. The recovery of ballooned hydrocarbons via ballooned hydraulic fractures can include the use of an OZF (Optimized Modified Zipper Frac) that recoves hydrocarbons. OZF can be implemented as a fracturing technique with respect to organic shale reservoirs to maximize near-wellbore complexity and overall permeability and hydrocarbone recovery. Additionally, Complex toe-to-heel flooding (CTTHF) can be applied to horizontal wells. CTTHF uses one or more barriers and an injector hydraulic fracture, and facilitates the control of early water production.