Methods of setting particulate plugs in horizontal well bores using low-rate slurries

1. A method of setting a particulate plug within an at least partially horizontal section of a well bore, comprising the steps of:

selecting a deposition location for the particulate plug within the at least partially horizontal section of the well bore having a proppant bed therein;

providing a pumping conduit capable of delivering slurries to the deposition location;

pumping a first slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the first slurry in the well bore with the proppant bed at the deposition location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein particulate deposition within the pumping conduit does not exceed about 20% of the internal diameter of the pumping conduit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein pumping continues at least until a bridge forms proximate the deposition location.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

pumping a second slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the second slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the second slurry in the well bore with any previous deposition at the deposition location; and

successively pumping subsequent slurries through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that, for each subsequent slurry, a velocity of each subsequent slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of such slurry in the well bore with any previous deposition at the deposition location; wherein the pumping of subsequent slurries continues at least until a bridge forms proximate the deposition location.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first slurry comprises:

a base fluid; and

particulate, wherein the particulate comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a common sand, a resin-coated particulate, a sintered bauxite, a silica alumina, a glass, a fiber, a ceramic material, a polylactic acid material, a composite material, and a derivative thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the concentration of particulate in the first slurry is between about 1 and about 25 lbs/gal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first slurry is a low viscosity fluid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumping conduit comprises coiled tubing.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the well bore is at least partially cased proximate the deposition location.

10. A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a treatment zone in the subterranean formation;

(b) providing a treatment fluid comprising proppant to the treatment zone through a well bore, wherein: the well bore penetrates the treatment zone; and at least a section of the well bore is at least partially horizontal proximate the treatment zone; and at least some of the proppant forms a proppant bed at the deposition location;

(c) providing a pumping conduit capable of delivering slurries to a deposition location within the well bore proximate the treatment location; and

(d) pumping a first slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location and the velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the first slurry in the well bore with the proppant bed at the deposition location.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the well bore is at least partially cased proximate the deposition location.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein particulate deposition within the pumping conduit does not exceed about 20% of the internal diameter of the pumping conduit.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein pumping continues at least until a bridge forms proximate the deposition location.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein steps (a)-(d) are repeated in a subsequent treatment zone.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

pumping a second slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the second slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the second slurry in the well bore with any previous deposition at the deposition location; and

successively pumping subsequent slurries through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that, for each subsequent slurry, a velocity of each subsequent slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of such slurry in the well bore with any previous deposition at the deposition location; wherein the pumping of subsequent slurries continues at least until a bridge forms proximate the deposition location.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first slurry comprises

a base fluid; and

particulate, wherein the particulate comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a common sand, a resin-coated particulate, a sintered bauxite, a silica alumina, a glass, a fiber, a ceramic material, a polylactic acid material, a composite material, and a derivative thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the concentration of particulate in the first slurry is between about 1 to about 25 lbs per gallon.