API Publishes Third Edition of Specification Q2 for Well-Site Service Organizations

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2026 - The American Petroleum Institute (API) today announced the publication of the third edition of API Specification Q2 (API Spec Q2), Quality Management System Requirements for Service Supply Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries.

This specification provides a quality management system (QMS) framework for organizations performing well-site services associated with well construction, intervention, production and abandonment, by establishing the minimum requirements for developing a QMS for upstream service supply organizations. These requirements support consistent operations and service delivery, reduce the risk of nonconformities and non-productive time, and help organizations meet customer, legal and other applicable requirements.

The third edition is a refinement of the second edition of API Spec Q2 published in 2021. The second edition strengthened the quality management framework for service organizations and increased alignment with API Specification Q1, Quality Management System Requirements for Organizations Providing Products for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry (API Spec Q1), but experience applying the specification through API's Specification Q2 certification program demonstrated the need for greater clarity about API Spec Q2's intended scope. The third edition responds by focusing API Spec Q2 more specifically on organizations providing well-site services.

"Reliable well-site operations depend on organizations that can manage quality across people, processes, equipment and suppliers," API Senior Vice President of Global Industry Services Anchal Liddar said. "The third edition of API Spec Q2 provides greater clarity about where the specification applies and refines the framework organizations use to manage risk, performance, and continual improvement."

The new edition also clarifies the relationship between API Spec Q2 and API Spec Q1. The tenth edition of Q1, published in 2023, expanded its scope to include organizations performing certain engineering, product-realization, and product-related activities. The two specifications remain aligned where appropriate, while more clearly distinguishing the product-related activities covered by API Spec Q1 from the well-site services covered by API Spec Q2.

Other notable changes in the third edition include:

• Introducing provisions for deferrals or concessions under a preventive maintenance, inspection and test program.
• Adding a definition of performance acceptable criteria (PAC).
• Updating purchasing requirements to emphasize a risk-based approach.
• Expanding the required record-retention period to 10 years.

Since 2013 API has offered certification to API Spec Q2 through the API Quality Registrar (APIQR) program. More than 250 companies across the globe from Asia, to the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Central and North America, currently hold Q2 certification.

The third edition draws on the input of technical experts in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Representatives of the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement also contributed to the revision.

The third edition of API Spec Q2 is available through the API Webstore.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry, supporting nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. With approximately 600 members, API companies produce, process, and distribute the majority of the nation's energy. Founded in 1919, API has developed over 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

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