Method for cementing oil wells

A method of cementing a zone in an oil well penetrating a subterranean formation at elevated temperatures up to about 96.degree. C. comprising injecting down the well and positioning in the zone to be cemented a hydraulic cement aqueous slurry composition comprising dry hydraulic cement, sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry and a cement retarding additive consisting of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 percent by weight, based on the dry hydraulic cement component, of a zinc salt selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc oxide and zinc sulfate and from about 0.2 to about 1.0 percent by weight of a water soluble ammonium, alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkaryl sulfonic acid, and allowing the composition thus positioned to set to a monolithic mass.