| Document and Entity Information | 9 Months Ended | |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | Nov. 04, 2013 | |
| Document And Entity Information | ' | ' |
| Entity Registrant Name | 'EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION | ' |
| Entity Central Index Key | '0000887396 | ' |
| Document Type | '10-Q | ' |
| Document Period End Date | 30-Sep-13 | ' |
| Amendment Flag | 'false | ' |
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | '--12-31 | ' |
| Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? | 'No | ' |
| Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? | 'No | ' |
| Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? | 'No | ' |
| Entity Filer Category | 'Smaller Reporting Company | ' |
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | ' | 7,630,374 |
| Document Fiscal Period Focus | 'Q3 | ' |
| Document Fiscal Year Focus | '2013 | ' |
| Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
| Current assets: | ' | ' |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $2,990 | $20,766 |
| Accounts receivable | 8,578 | 1,370 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,200 | 1,100 |
| Total current assets | 13,768 | 23,236 |
| Property & equipment less accumulated depreciation and depletion | 223,465 | 223,465 |
| Other assets | 0 | 77,696 |
| Total assets | 237,233 | 324,397 |
| Current liabilities: | ' | ' |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 547 | 10,135 |
| Notes payable - related party | 56,000 | 0 |
| Total current liabilities | 56,547 | 10,135 |
| Stockholders' equity: | ' | ' |
| Common stock - $.001 par value authorized 150,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 7,630,374 shares | 7,630 | 7,630 |
| Additional paid in capital | 14,604,033 | 14,566,533 |
| Accumulated deficit | -14,430,977 | -14,259,901 |
| Total stockholders' equity | 180,686 | 314,262 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $237,233 | $324,397 |
| Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
| Stockholders' equity: | ' | ' |
| Common stock, par value | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Common stock, shares authorized | 150,000,000 | 150,000,000 |
| Common stock, shares issued | 7,630,374 | 7,630,374 |
| Common stock, shares outstanding | 7,630,374 | 7,630,374 |
| Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
| Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | |
| Revenue: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Petroleum Sales | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Costs and expenses: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Production & operating | 13,347 | 12,083 | 20,535 | 24,328 |
| General & administrative | 43,141 | 35,618 | 150,541 | 161,631 |
| Costs and expenses total | 56,488 | 47,701 | 171,076 | 185,959 |
| Operating loss | -56,488 | -47,701 | -171,076 | -185,959 |
| Other expense: | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Interest expense | 0 | -2,426 | 0 | -5,762 |
| Total other expense | 0 | -2,426 | 0 | -5,762 |
| Net loss | ($56,488) | ($50,127) | ($171,076) | ($191,721) |
| Net loss per common share, basic & diluted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding basic and diluted | 7,630,374 | 7,130,353 | 7,630,374 | 7,130,353 |
| Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ' | ' |
| Net loss | ($171,076) | ($191,721) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ' | ' |
| Value of services contributed by employee | 37,500 | 37,500 |
| Change in operating assets and liabilities: | ' | ' |
| Accounts receivable and other assets | 70,488 | -11,691 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | -1,100 | -1,100 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | -9,588 | 5,698 |
| Net cash used in operating activities | -73,776 | -161,314 |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ' | ' |
| Proceeds from shareholder advance and related party note payable | 56,000 | 158,603 |
| Net change in cash | -17,776 | -2,711 |
| Cash - Beginning of period | 20,766 | 4,978 |
| Cash - End of period | $2,990 | $2,267 |
| Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | |
| Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies | ' |
| 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies | ' |
| The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Empire Petroleum Corporation ("Empire" or the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, the results of operations, and the cash flows for the interim period are included. All adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. | |
| The information contained in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2012 which are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 8, 2013. | |
| The Company has incurred significant losses in recent years. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to attain future profitable operations and/or additional debt or equity financing until profitable operations are achieved. These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of United States generally accepted accounting principles applicable to a company with continuing operations, which assume that the Company will continue in operation for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its obligations in the normal course of operations. Management believes the going concern assumption to be appropriate for these financial statements. If the going concern assumption were not appropriate for these financial statements, then adjustments might be necessary to adjust the carrying value of assets and liabilities and reported expenses. | |
| The Company continues to seek partners to help it explore and develop its oil and gas interests. The ultimate recoverability of the Company's investment in its oil and gas interests is dependent upon the existence and discovery of economically recoverable oil and gas reserves, confirmation of the Company's interest in the oil and gas interests, the ability of the Company to obtain necessary financing to further develop the interests, and the ability of the Company to attain future profitable production. | |
| As of September 30, 2013, the Company had $2,990 of cash on hand. In order to sustain the Company's operations on a long-term basis, the Company continues to look for merger opportunities and consider public or private financings. | |
| Reverse Stock Split | |
| The share and per share information for the prior periods has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the August 12, 2013 one-for-twelve reverse stock split described in Note 3. | |
| Compensation of Officers and Employees | |
| The Company's only executive officer serves without pay or other compensation. The fair value of these services is estimated by management and is recognized as a capital contribution. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $37,500 as a capital contribution by its executive officer. | |
| Fair Value Measurements | |
| The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") fair value measurement standards define fair value, establish a consistent framework for measuring fair value and establish a fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs used to measure fair value. The Company's primary marketable asset is cash, and it owns no marketable securities. |
| Property And Equipment | 9 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | |
| Property And Equipment | ' |
| 2. Property And Equipment | ' |
| GABBS VALLEY PROSPECT | |
| The Company has an interest in 34,186 acres of federal oil and gas leases on the Gabbs Valley Prospect in Western Nevada. Since 2003, the Company has conducted extensive geological studies, conducted a seismic survey, carried out a geochemical imaging survey, conducted satellite and gravity studies and drilled two test wells. | |
| Both test wells had significant oil shows. The second test well resulted in a small oil discovery, however the Company deemed it non-commercial and elected to abandon it. One of the co-owners of the leases elected to take over the well and make further tests. It secured other parties to conduct such tests. Well completion equipment was installed and further production testing was carried out, however as of September 30, 2013, to the Company’s knowledge, commercial production has not been established. It is the Company’s understanding that further testing is being carried out, but no results have been reported. Empire does feel the prospect has considerable geological merit since the primary target, being the Triassic formation, was not reached in either of the two test wells. Empire is now in discussions with other companies about drilling a new test well, however no agreements have yet been reached. | |
| SOUTH OKIE PROSPECT | |
| In 2009, the Company originally purchased 2,630 net acres of oil and gas leases known as the South Okie Prospect in Natrona County, Wyoming. The Tensleep Sand at depths from 3,300 feet to 4,500 feet is the primary target. As of December 31, 2009, the Company acquired 11 miles of seismic data and studies of this data were completed in early January 2010. An additional geological study was also completed in early January 2010. After further review of all the seismic and geological data and considering the Company’s financial condition it has reduced its holdings to 600 gross (110 net) acres. Subject to securing additional financing and/or engaging an industry partner, the Company plans to drill or cause to be drilled a test well. |
| Equity | 9 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | |
| Equity | ' |
| 3. Equity | ' |
| Diluted Earnings per Share (“EPS”) gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume conversion, exercise or contingent exercise of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on losses. As a result, if there is a loss from continuing operations, Diluted EPS is computed in the same manner as Basic EPS. At September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company had, respectively, 87,083 and 103,750 post-split options outstanding, that were not included in the calculation of earnings per share for the periods then ended. Such financial instruments may become dilutive and would then need to be included in future calculations of Diluted EPS. At September 30, 2013 and 2012, the outstanding options were considered anti-dilutive since the strike prices were above the market price and since the Company has incurred losses year to date. | |
| On August 24, 2011, Albert E. Whitehead, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, was issued 166,667 shares (2,000,000 pre-split shares) of the Company’s common stock for a purchase price of $.60 per share (post-split) for a total investment of $100,000. | |
| On May 31, 2012, at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders approved an increase of the Company’s authorized shares of common stock by 50,000,000 to 150,000,000. | |
| On December 11, 2012, the Company entered in a note conversion agreement with the Albert E. Whitehead Living Trust (the “Whitehead Trust”). Pursuant to the note conversion agreement, on December 11, 2012, the Company converted $300,013 in debt owed by the Company to the Whitehead Trust into shares of Common Stock at a conversion rate of $0.60 per share (post-split), resulting in the issuance of 500,021 shares (6,000,250 pre-split shares) of Common Stock to the Whitehead Trust. Upon the issuance of such shares, such debt owed by the Company to the Whitehead Trust was deemed paid in full and certain notes issued by the Company and the other obligations relating to such debt were terminated. Albert E. Whitehead, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of its Board of Directors, is the trustee of the Whitehead Trust. | |
| At the Company’s annual shareholders meeting on July 10, 2013, shareholders approved a proposal to allow the Company’s Board of Directors to authorize a one-for-twelve reverse stock split. The Board of Directors approved the reverse stock split on July 29, 2013 which became effective August 12, 2013. The reverse split did not change the authorized number of shares of Common Stock of the Company or the par value of the Common Stock. |
| Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Details Narrative) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2013 | |
| Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies Details Narrative | ' |
| Cash on hand | $2,990 |
| Capital contribution by its executive officer | $37,500 |
| Equity (Details Narrative) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 |
| Equity Details Narrative | ' | ' |
| Post-split options outstanding | 87,083 | 103,750 |
