About - ISHM

98 Years of Training

Training in Hydrocarbon Measurement

ISHM Advances Knowledge and Training of the Hydrocarbon Industry

The purpose of the ISHM School, with the cooperation and support of the University of Oklahoma, other sponsoring associations, regulatory commissions, the operating companies within the petroleum industry and the manufacturing firms who service the industry, is to provide instruction in both technical and non-technical subjects for personnel in the industry.

In this way, problems that pertain to the measurement, control, and handling of both gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons may be studied so that useful and accurate information can be developed and published for the benefit of the public in general. The data and information found in the school classrooms and in the published Proceedings provides great value to all who are engaged in this phase of the industry.

Industry and University

One of the guiding principles of ISHM is collaboration. ISHM occurs annually with collaboration between Industry and University of Oklahoma.

ISHM History

ISHM is believed to be the oldest petroleum industry school in the world devoted to fluid measurement and control. The School dates from 1924 when the first three-day session was organized as the Southwestern Gas Measurement Short Course (SGMSC). Mr. W.H. Crutcher, then Chairman of the Oklahoma Utilities Association, proposed having the school in an effort to establish a better understanding of the problems of gas measurement and to better promote improved measurement practices in this area.

Sixty persons attended the Short Course, which met under the auspices of the University of Oklahoma College of Engineering on the campus at Norman, Oklahoma. Interest in the School was apparent from the beginning, and in 1926, Professor William H. Carson who organized the Committee Structure that is in use today assumed its leadership. Dr. Carson, who became Dean of the College of Engineering in 1937, continued as head of the SGMSC until 1968.

Since its inception, except for one year during the depression of the “thirties”, one year during World War II and the recent cancelation of the 2020 and 2021 schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the School has met annually in the spring. Until 1972, the content of the Short Course was confined to Natural Gas Measurement, Flow Rate and Pressure Control.

As the supply and demand problems in the United States worsened and imports of petroleum liquids increased, it became apparent that improved measurement practices were of paramount importance. The decision was made to change the name to the International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement (ISHM), and to expand the curriculum to include measurement and handling of all petroleum liquids, ranging from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to tar sand slurries.

The response to these expanded offerings has been tremendous and many registrants from around the world now attend regularly.

Past ISHM Chairperson

2020-2025

2025 - Stormy Phillips, SPL
2024 - David Smith, Chevron
2023 - Keith Harper, Targa Resources
2022 - Tom Cleveland, Lucid Energy
2021 - No School – Covid 19, No School
2020 - No School - Covid 19, No School

2010-2019

2019 - Jimmy Galyean, Atmos
2018 - James Lee, ONEOK Inc.
2017 - Robert Fritz, Enable Midstream
2016 - Don Sextro, Targa Resources
2015 - Manuel Atencio, WPX Energy
2014 - David Bromley, BP Pipeline
2013 - Henry James, BP US Pipelines and Logistics
2012 - Brad Massey, Williams Midstream
2011 - Steve Baldwin, Chevron USA
2010 - Eric Estrada, Targa Resources

2000-2009

2009 - Harry James, Gibson Energy
2008 - Doug Arrick, Teppco
2007 - Del Major, Shell Pipeline
2006 - David Wofford, Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent
2005 - Chip Leitschuh, Jr., El Paso – Tennessee Gas Pipeline
2004 - Steve Gage, Arkansas Western Gas
2003 - W. W. Timmerman, Kaiser-Francis Oil Company
2002 - J. F. Shiflet, Oncor
2001 - W. H. Ryan, El Paso Natural Gas Company
2000 - M. J. Yeandle, Enbridge USA Inc

1990-1999

1999 - D. E. Dodds, Duke Energy
1998 - I. J. Williams, Oryx Energy Company
1997 - F. G Van Orsdol, Mid-America Pipeline
1996 - S. T. Stark, Williams Natural Gas Company
1995 - J. S. Beeson, NorAm Gas Transmission
1994 - R. L. Austerman, Phillips Petroleum Company
1993 - R. L. Overbey, Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp.
1992 - J. E. Gross, Lone Star Gas Company
1991 - J. P. Smith, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
1990 - M. L. Williams, Amoco Production Company

1980-1989

1989 - R. D. Goodenough, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
1988 - H. C. Tilley, Union Pacific Resources
1987 - J. V. Bryant, Lone Star Gas Company
1986 - R. L. Grimes, Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
1985 - N. B. Lansverk, HNG-Internorth
1984 - R. J. Crawford, Northern Illinois Gas
1983 - W. J. Templeton, Cities Service Gas Company
1982 - D. A. Tefankjian, Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline Co.
1981 - R. J. Rau, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
1980 - R.L. Vance, Transwestern Pipeline Company

1970-1979

1979 - T. H. Oake, Southern Natural Gas Company
1978 - T. L. Hillburn, Phillips Petroleum Company
1977 - W. B. Birkhead, United Gas Pipe Line Company
1976 - W. B. Richardson, Southern Union Gas Company
1975 - T. E. Jacobs, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
1974 - B. G. Grant, Ball Reid Engineers Inc.
1973 - W. Coffman, Cities Service Gas
1972 - L. R. Boyter, Trunkline Gas Company
1971 - R. W. Davis, Columbia Gulf Transmission
1970 - E. A. Poyhonen, Oklahoma Natural Gas

1960-1969

1969 - J. W. Pofahl, El Paso Natural Gas
1968 - J. R. Birdwell, Texas Eastern Transmission
1967 - W. B. Ruff, Jr., Southern Natural Gas Company
1966 - N. B. McKinney, Lone Star Gas Company
1965 - C. R. Stephenson, Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline
1964 - G. W. Swinney, Phillips Petroleum Company
1963 - H. S. Gray, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
1962 - D. H. Lindsay, Northern Natural Gas Company
1961 - R. B. Fleske, Cities Service Gas Company
1960 - R. R. McCafferty, Pioneer Natural Gas Company

1950-1959

1959 - R. F. Nowlin, United Gas Corporation
1958 - T. J. Kirkpatrick, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.
1957 - R. S. Peace, Jr., Southern Natural Gas Company
1956 - R. O. Fox, Lone Star Gas Company
1955 - K. R. Tibbets, Warren Petroleum Corporation
1954 - P.H. Miller, Texas Eastern Transmission Corp.
1953 - T. S. Whitis, Pioneer Natural Gas Company
1952 - J. L. Griffin, Northern Natural Gas Company
1951 - B. F. Worley, United Gas Corporation
1950 - W. H. Woods, Gulf Oil Corporation

1940-1949

1949 - C. E. Terrill, Southern Natural Gas Company
1948 - E. C. McAninch, Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
1947 - R. M. Scofield, Lone Star Gas Company
1946 - C. A. Gibson, Cities Service Gas Company
1945 - E. Kightlinger, Arkansas-Louisiana Gas Co.
1944 - Watson, Canadian River Gas Company
1943 - No School
1942 - G. W. McCullough, Phillips Petroleum Company
1941 - R. L. Rountree, United Gas Pipe Line Company
1940 - F. C. Walters, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.

1930 - 1939

1939 - L. G. Reinberger, Sinclair Prairie Oil Company
1938 - G. Estill, Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
1937 - E. E. Stovall, Lone Star Gas Company
1936 - R. D. Turner, Skelly Oil Company
1935 - D. C. Williams, Kay County Company
1934 - W. R. McLaughlin, Arkansas Natural Gas Corporation
1933 - No School
1932 - B. L. Maulsby, Oklahoma Natural Gas Co.
1931 - C. B. Day, Consolidated Gas Utilities Co.
1930 - D. A. Sillers, Lone Star Gas Company

1924 - 1929

1929 - E. D. Frank, The Empire Companies
1928 - E. A. Clark, Ottawa Gas & Electric Co.
1927 - E. A. Clark, Ottawa Gas & Electric Co.
1926 - J. H. Baxter, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
1925 - J. H. Baxter, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
1924 - J. H. Baxter, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.

ISHM Mobile App

After you register for ISHM 2026, you will be emailed a link for the 2026 App. Using the app, you’ll be able to browse the ISHM program schedule, build your own itinerary, view the expo hall and venue maps, and read profiles on instructors and exhibitors. You can also check out class descriptions, rate classes and download papers.

Antitrust Compliance Policy

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF HYDROCARBON MEASUREMENT, INC.

ANTITRUST COMPLIANCE POLICY

The policy of the International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement, Inc. (ISHM) is to comply with all applicable laws, including applicable antitrust laws. Under no circumstance will ISHM directly or indirectly be involved in conduct that leads to or implies an agreement among its committee members that would restrain trade and/or otherwise violate applicable antitrust laws. ISHM will conduct all of its activities in a manner that avoids even the appearance of improper conduct. Therefore, all ISHM committee members are required to follow the guidelines provided below.

Guidelines for ISHM Committee Meetings

The following procedures shall be followed at all ISHM committee meetings as well as meetings that are in addition to regularly scheduled committee meetings:

1. All meetings shall have a written agenda distributed in advance. A copy of these guidelines shall be provided to meeting attendees;
2. A chair of the meeting shall be identified before or at the start of the meeting;
3. An antitrust compliance reminder shall be a part of the agenda and be made at the beginning of the meeting by the meeting chair;
4. Meetings shall follow the written agenda. Any departures from the agenda must be noted in the meeting minutes;
5. Accurate minutes of all meetings will be kept and include (a) time, date and place of the meeting, (b) list of attendees, (c) description of the matters discussed, (d) actions taken with a summary of the reasons, and (e) a record of any votes taken;
6. Commercially Sensitive Information is information that could influence a commercial decision or strategy. Information is not considered to be commercially sensitive if it does not relate to parameters of competition, is in the public domain, is historic, or is sufficiently aggregated to lose its sensitivity. All ISHM committee meetings shall avoid discussions of Commercially Sensitive Information, including:
a. Price, pricing methods, price practices, price strategies, price changes, price advertising;
b. Discounts, rebates, service charges, cost;
c. Terms or conditions of purchase or sale;
d. Profit or profit margin;
e. Allocation of customers, markets, territories, projects (bid-rigging) or products;
f. Submission of complimentary bids;
g. Levels of production, capacity, output, utilization, manufacturing processes or supply of services;
h. Technological solutions for specific projects;
i. Whether a committee member will submit an offer to a particular invitation or the terms on which the committee member will offer;
j. Purchasing or sales strategies;
k. Whether to do business with certain suppliers, customers or competitors;
l. Confidential company plans regarding future product or service offerings.

Guidelines for ISHM School Presentations and Exhibits

ISHM shall provide the topics and synopses for ISHM school presentations to speakers before the school date. ISHM shall provide speakers and exhibitors with a copy of this Policy well in advance of the school date so they have adequate time to review it in developing their presentations and exhibits, and shall clearly communicate that Commercially Sensitive Information shall not be discussed or promoted at the school.

Compliance

Committee members will be provided with a copy of this Policy. Compliance with this Policy is a committee membership requirement. Committee members can be removed from the committee for violating this Policy. ISHM will communicate with members when questions are raised concerning their compliance with this Policy.

Conclusion

This Policy is not meant to anticipate every situation in which antitrust concerns may arise in connection with ISHM activities. Therefore, ISHM Committee members are required to be mindful of antitrust risks and to consult the ISHM Executive Committee if there is any doubt about the propriety of an ISHM program or subject of discussion.

About ISHM