Patent ID: 7172022

Claim:
A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising: providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement and a degradable material, wherein the degradable material is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesters, poly(lactides), poly(glycolides), poly(Îµ-caprolactones), poly(hydroxybutyrates), poly(anhydrides), aliphatic polycarbonate, ortho esters, poly(orthoesters), poly(vinylacetates), polyamides, proteins, polyaminoacids, nylons, poly(caprolactams), polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, and combinations thereof; placing the cement composition into a subterranean formation; allowing the cement composition to set therein to form at least a portion of a cement sheath; and allowing the degradable material to degrade so as to create one or more voids within the cement sheath.