SGI Tops Graphics, Server and Workstation Categories in World Oil Visualization Center Survey

Magazine's Visualization Reference for the Oil and Gas Industry Finds 88% Of Surveyed Companies Use SGI Graphics Products, 86% Use SGI HPC Products

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 6, 2003 -- SGI (NYSE: SGI) has swept key graphics and high-performance computing (HPC) categories in World Oil's survey of more than 80 oil and gas companies around the world that have their own visualization centers. The survey results, just published in a supplement to the magazine's May 2003 issue, find that 88% of surveyed companies use SGI(R) graphics products and 86% use SGI HPC products.

"These striking results reflect SGI's deep penetration into the oil and gas industry, particularly with those companies that are committed to high return on investment through the use of top graphics and high-performance computing equipment for such tasks as exploration and reservoir simulation," noted SGI's Bill Bartling, senior director, Global Energy Solutions. "SGI works closely with companies that already have SGI Reality Center infrastructures to maximize their investments through enhanced uses in collaborative decision making, distributed graphics and the emerging field of digital oil fields."

Survey results in the crucial categories of graphics and HPC servers/workstations included:

-- 88% of companies surveyed reported use of SGI graphics hardware

-- The InfiniteReality3(TM) graphics subsystem emerged as the most popular graphics card reported to World Oil, with 55% of companies surveyed identifying it as their graphics subsystem of choice

-- 42% of companies surveyed use Silicon Graphics(R) Onyx2(R) graphics servers

-- At least one SGI workstation or server is being used in 86% of companies surveyed

SGI high-performance computing, storage and visualization solutions are well suited to existing and emerging applications associated with petroleum industry exploration and production. Seismic imaging applications make extensive use of the high-performance 3D and 4D processing and volume-visualization capabilities of SGI(R) Reality Center(R) environments to make oil well planning, drilling and operating a faster and more accurate process. In addition, the scalable computing and storage capabilities of the SGI(R) Origin(R) 3000 servers and the recently announced SGI(R) Altix(TM) 3000 family of servers and superclusters are utilized for reservoir simulation. These systems more efficiently manage existing energy reserves, extending their productive lives, reducing operating costs, increasing recovery factors, and maximizing profitability and cash flow.

With the 2002 introduction of Visual Area Networking, SGI is now delivering this state-of-the-art advanced visualization technology to larger numbers of people anyplace, anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Engineers and earth scientists can collaborate on their most complex simulations, visualizations and decision models, working in real time with their counterparts in distant offices and at advanced visualization sites. For further details, visit http://www.sgi.com/industries/energy/.

Published since 1916, World Oil is a leading trade journal covering oil and gas exploration, drilling and production. It is available on the Web at http://www.worldoil.com.

About SGI

SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is the world's leader in high-performance computing, visualization and storage. SGI's vision is to provide technology that enables the most significant scientific and creative breakthroughs of the 21st century. Whether it's sharing images to aid in brain surgery, finding oil more efficiently, studying global climate or enabling the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, SGI is dedicated to addressing the next class of challenges for scientific, engineering and creative users. SGI was named on FORTUNE magazine's 2003 list of "Top 100 Companies to Work For." With offices worldwide, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and can be found on the Web at http://www.sgi.com.

NOTE: Silicon Graphics, SGI, Origin, Reality Center, InfiniteReality, Onyx, Onyx2 and the SGI logo are registered trademarks and InfiniteReality3 and Altix are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries worldwide. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: John Watson, +1-650-933-1652, or jwatson@sgi.com., or SGI PR Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR Fax, +1-650-932-0737, all of SGI.

SOURCE SGI

Web Site: http://www.sgi.com