For me, a reliable way to get an OOM error is doing the folloing:
1. start Elemental with the cheat parameter
2. start a new game (large map with 4 factions)
3. quicksave the game, then reveal the map with control u
4. look around a bit on map, then exit to main menu, goto 2.
after doing this 10 to 25 times elemental will eventually crash after pressing control s.
windows7 32bit, ATI Raedon 5770