that converts a degradable material from a first state or phase to a second state or phase the u201c degradation u201d may be in the form of dissolution disintegration defragmentation swelling or shrinkage the degradation of the degradable materials may be by contacting selected fluids or by changing temperatures and or pressures in addition the ph of the fluids may also be changed to influence degradation of the degradable materials in particular rate of degradation with changing temperature and or pressure as the degradation mechanism the materials may be so selected that the changes in temperatures and or pressure i e in typical downhole applications either reduce or increase degradation rates fig4 a and 4b show two charts illustrating how degradation rates i e the degradation of the degradable materials may be controlled by temperature fig4 a and ph fig4 b in accordance with some embodiments of the invention the degradation may be activated by contacts with selected fluids the so called fluids that can be used to degrade the degradable materials of the temporary containment may be solvent to the particular materials such that these materials will dissolve in the fluids for oil and gas applications the active fluid may be aqueous or non aqueous examples of degradable materials may include hydrophobic materials that can be dissolved by hydrophobic solvents or hydrophilic materials that can be dissolved by water thus in accordance with embodiments of the invention a simple example of degradable materials for temporary containment for swellable and inflatable packers may be a hydrophobic material that is not soluble in an aqueous solvent but is readily soluble in a hydrophobic solvent such a hydrophobic material may be used to construct a portion or all of a packer element the presence of the hydrophobic material temporary containment keeps.