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

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.