ORA-04030: out of process memory when trying to allocate 16384 bytes

I need your help on this problem urgently. When i run a SQL query in Oracle on the Production Server, it is giving me this error. What should i do ?

ERROR: SQL code, error message: -1 ORA-04030: out of process memory when trying to allocate 16384 bytes (sort subheap,sort key)

This is happenning only on the Production Server. When i execute the same query on the SIT Server, it does not give me the above error and executes in a few seconds. I checked the SGA and other Oracle settings of both the servers and did not find any difference. Can you please help me out.

You may be running out of physical memory. Make sure your sort_area_size is not too large.

Hi,

Have you checked your kernel parameters. Are they the same for both the environments and set as per oracle's recommendations ?

Sonal D'Souza.