Property and Equipment	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements
Property and Equipment	2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT: GABBS VALLEY PROSPECT As of September 30, 2011 the Company's leasehold acreage in the Gabbs Valley Prospect consisted of 30,346 gross acres and the Company’s ownership in such leasehold acreage is 50%. As of December 31, 2005, there had been no wells drilled on the Gabbs Valley Prospect. However, in November 2005, the Company received the results of a 19-mile 2-D swath seismograph survey conducted on the prospect and, based on the results of the survey, the Company and its partners determined that a test well should be drilled on the prospect. The Company drilled its first test well on this prospect in 2006. After reaching 5,195 feet in connection with drilling this well(the Empire Cobble Cuesta 1-12), the Company and its partners elected to suspend operations on the well, and released the drilling rig and associated equipment. Company personnel and consultants then evaluated the drilling and logging data and after the study was completed, Empire and its partners decided to conduct a thorough testing program on the well. The Company re-entered the well on April 17, 2007 and conducted a series of drill stem tests and recovered only drilling mud. It was then determined after considerable study that the formation is likely very sensitive to mud and water used in drilling which may have caused clays in the formation to swell preventing any oil that might be present to flow into the well bore. In 2008, the Company and its partners engaged W. L. Gore and Associates to carry out an Amplified Geochemical Imaging Survey which covered approximately sixteen square miles. The survey was concentrated along the apex of the large Cobble Cuesta structure which included the areas around the Empire Cobble Cuesta 1-12 exploratory test and the other test well drilled in the immediate area. Both of these tests encountered oil shows and the geochemical survey indicated potential hydrocarbons beyond the two well bores. Thereafter, a new Federal drilling unit was formed and approved by the Bureau of Land Management. This unit was known as the Paradise Drilling Unit. In July 2010, the Company entered into a farm-in agreement with its joint lease holders holding a 41% working interest in the 40,073 acre Paradise Unit. On July 19, 2010, the Company commenced drilling a test well in the Paradise Unit on the Gabbs Valley Prospect in Nevada. The Company drilled the Paradise Unit 2-12 test well to a depth of 4,250 feet before drilling problems caused the Company to cease drilling. The Company tested the well between 3,700 feet and 3,782 feet where oil shows were found. The Company recovered small amounts of oil containing paraffin, which may have been restricting the oil flow. However, swab tests failed to increase the oil flow and the Company has suspended operations on the well and assigned the lease and the 1-12 and 2-12 wells to the other leasehold owners from which the Company had taken a farmout. The new owners plan to do further testing on the 2-12 well and assumed liabilities associated with the lease and both the 1-12 and 2-12 wells. Further testing by the new owners is expected in the fourth quarter of 2011 pending financing. The Company has utilized the results of the testing and other factors to determine its next action with respect to the Gabbs Valley leasehold. The Company is now looking for an industry partner to take a farmout on approximately 25,000 acres with the obligation to drill a Triassic test well or to a depth of 7,000 feet, whichever first occurs. Sale of Working Interest In October 2010, the Company sold 7% of its working interest in the Gabbs Valley Prospect leases for $700,000. In connection with such sale, the purchasers were granted a working interest in the Paradise Unit 2-12 well, unit leases and an option to participate in the farmin of the non-unit leases, which option has since expired. SOUTH OKIE PROSPECT On August 4, 2009, the Company purchased, for $25,000 and payment of lease rentals of $4,680, a nine month option to purchase 2,630 net acres of oil and gas leases known as the South Okie Prospect in Natrona County, Wyoming. The option allowed the Company to purchase the leasehold interests for $35,000. 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. Based on these studies, the Company exercised its option in 2010. Subject to securing additional financing and/or engaging an industry partner, the Company plans to drill or cause to be drilled another test well.

Property and Equipment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Property and Equipment

2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

GABBS VALLEY PROSPECT

As of September 30, 2011 the Company's leasehold acreage in the Gabbs Valley

Prospect consisted of 30,346 gross acres and the Company’s ownership in such

leasehold acreage is 50%.

As of December 31, 2005, there had been no wells drilled on the Gabbs

Valley Prospect. However, in November 2005, the Company received the

results of a 19-mile 2-D swath seismograph survey conducted on the

prospect and, based on the results of the survey, the Company and its

partners determined that a test well should be drilled on the prospect.

The Company drilled its first test well on this prospect in 2006. After

reaching 5,195 feet in connection with drilling this well(the Empire Cobble

Cuesta 1-12), the Company and its partners elected to suspend operations on

the well, and released the drilling rig and associated equipment. Company

personnel and consultants then evaluated the drilling and logging data and

after the study was completed, Empire and its partners decided to conduct

a thorough testing program on the well. The Company re-entered the well on

April 17, 2007 and conducted a series of drill stem tests and recovered only

drilling mud. It was then determined after considerable study that the

formation is likely very sensitive to mud and water used in drilling which

may have caused clays in the formation to swell preventing any oil that might

be present to flow into the well bore.

In 2008, the Company and its partners engaged W. L. Gore and Associates to

carry out an Amplified Geochemical Imaging Survey which covered approximately

sixteen square miles. The survey was concentrated along the apex of the large

Cobble Cuesta structure which included the areas around the Empire Cobble

Cuesta 1-12 exploratory test and the other test well drilled in the immediate

area. Both of these tests encountered oil shows and the geochemical survey

indicated potential hydrocarbons beyond the two well bores. Thereafter, a new

Federal drilling unit was formed and approved by the Bureau of Land

Management. This unit was known as the Paradise Drilling Unit.

In July 2010, the Company entered into a farm-in agreement with its joint

lease holders holding a 41% working interest in the 40,073 acre Paradise

Unit. On July 19, 2010, the Company commenced drilling a test well in the

Paradise Unit on the Gabbs Valley Prospect in Nevada. The Company drilled

the Paradise Unit 2-12 test well to a depth of 4,250 feet before

drilling problems caused the Company to cease drilling. The Company tested

the well between 3,700 feet and 3,782 feet where oil shows were found.

The Company recovered small amounts of oil containing paraffin, which may have

been restricting the oil flow. However, swab tests failed to increase the oil

flow and the Company has suspended operations on the well and assigned the

lease and the 1-12 and 2-12 wells to the other leasehold owners from which the

Company had taken a farmout. The new owners plan to do further testing on the

2-12 well and assumed liabilities associated with the lease and both the

1-12 and 2-12 wells. Further testing by the new owners is expected in the

fourth quarter of 2011 pending financing. The Company has utilized the

results of the testing and other factors to determine its next action with

respect to the Gabbs Valley leasehold. The Company is now looking for an

industry partner to take a farmout on approximately 25,000 acres with the

obligation to drill a Triassic test well or to a depth of 7,000 feet,

whichever first occurs.

Sale of Working Interest

In October 2010, the Company sold 7% of its working interest in the Gabbs

Valley Prospect leases for $700,000. In connection with such sale, the

purchasers were granted a working interest in the Paradise Unit 2-12 well,

unit leases and an option to participate in the farmin of the non-unit

leases, which option has since expired.

SOUTH OKIE PROSPECT

On August 4, 2009, the Company purchased, for $25,000 and payment of lease

rentals of $4,680, a nine month option to purchase 2,630 net acres of oil and

gas leases known as the South Okie Prospect in Natrona County, Wyoming.

The option allowed the Company to purchase the leasehold interests for

$35,000. 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.

Based on these studies, the Company exercised its option in 2010. Subject

to securing additional financing and/or engaging an industry partner, the

Company plans to drill or cause to be drilled another test well.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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