content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001310523</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000887396</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-16653</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>2200 S. UTICA PLACE</com:street1>
          <com:street2>SUITE 150</com:street2>
          <com:city>TULSA</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OK</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>74114</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>(539) 444-8002</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Sweeney Eugene J</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Former officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>245 Summer Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Boston</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02110</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>15000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>128250.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>22723780</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>09/08/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/08/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Private Placement</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>15000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/08/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash/ check</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>09/08/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Cristina Garcia, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Sweeney Eugene J</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2878}]
text: 144
  0001310523
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000887396
  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
  001-16653
  2200 S. UTICA PLACE
  SUITE 150
  TULSA
  OK
  74114
  (539) 444-8002
  Sweeney Eugene J
  Former officer
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  245 Summer Street
  Boston
  MA
  02110
  15000
  128250.00
  22723780
  09/08/2023
  NYSE
  Common
  03/08/2022
  Private Placement
  Issuer
  N
  15000
  03/08/2022
  Cash/ check
  Y
  09/08/2023
  /s/ Cristina Garcia, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Sweeney Eugene J