Findings confirm SGI's deep penetration into the industry with top graphics & high-performance computing equipment


June 16, 2003

Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI), the world’s leader in high-performance computing, visualization and management of complex data, has emerged as the first choice in graphics and high-performance computing among the majority of oil and gas companies operating globally, according to a survey of over 80 companies by World Oil, a leading international trade journal covering oil and gas exploration, drilling and production.

The survey results revealed that 88% of surveyed companies use SGI graphics solutions and 86% of them deploy SGI’s HPC servers and workstations.

“The results of this survey consolidate SGI’s superiority in graphics and computing solutions to the oil and gas industry, including the Middle East,” said Gilbert Soufan, Territory Manager Middle East, SGI. “Our high-performance computing, storage and visualization solutions provide invaluable tools for companies that are keen on a higher return on investment through the use of such technology, specifically for petroleum exploration and production.”

The survey further showed that SGI’s InfiniteReality3TM graphics subsystem was voted as the most popular graphics card, with 55% of companies surveyed reported to be using it. There was also at least one SGI workstation or server being used in 86% of all companies surveyed.

SGI’s high-performance computing equipment is extensively used in seismic imaging. The extraordinary 3D and 4D processing and volume-visualization capabilities of SGI® Reality Center® environments are used to make oil well planning, drilling and operating a faster and more accurate process. In addition, the introduction of Visual Area Networking in 2002 meant that SGI is able to supply this state-of-the-art advanced visualization technology to larger numbers of people anyplace, anywhere, anytime, and on any device. As a result, engineers and earth scientists can pool their resources together to work in real time on their most complex simulations, visualizations and decision models.

SGI, which has recently widened its focus on the Middle East, had recently introduced its Altix 3000 family of servers and super-clusters that deliver industry-leading performance at every level of scalability.

“To further deepen our commitment to the Middle East, we have introduced the revolutionary Altix range of products in the region, offering companies an opportunity to invest in cutting edge technology that can dramatically enhance performance and scalability,” added Soufan. “The findings of the Oil World survey highlight the advantages SGI systems offer companies in the oil and gas industry.”

-Ends-

About Silicon Graphics, Inc
Editor’s Note:
SGI
SGI (NYSE: SGI), also known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is the world’s leader in high-performance computing, visualization and the management of complex data. 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."


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© Press Release 2003