Abstract: Methods are provided for isolating segments of a horizontal wellbore drilled through an unconsolidated formation and treating the well to control rates of fluid flow into selected segments of the wellbore. The methods include screen segments separated by blank pipe segments to provide isolation outside the tubulars upon collapse of the surrounding formation around the blank pipe segments.

Abstract: A method for reducing fluid flow from and to a subterranean zone contiguous to a hydrocarbon producing formation which includes the steps of initially extending a common fracture horizontally into the zone and into the formation to locate a portion of the fracture in each of the zone and the formation, then introducing a porous bed of solid particles into that portion of the fracture located in the zone. A removable diverting material, such as a gel, is then introduced into the portion of the fracture located in the formation and adjacent the locus of the bed of solid particles to block the portion of the fracture occupied by the diverting material to a selected fluid sealing material. The selected sealing material is then introduced to the interstices of the particles in the porous bed, and is set to a fluid-impermeable seal to impede fluid flow to and from said zone. The diverting material is then removed to facilitate hydrocarbon production from the formation.