<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001057983-12-000004.txt : 20121211
<SEC-HEADER>0001057983-12-000004.hdr.sgml : 20121211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121211164818
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001057983-12-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITEHEAD ALBERT E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057983

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16653
		FILM NUMBER:		121256852

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6506 S. LEWIS AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 112
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74136-1020

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887396
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				731238709
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6506 S. LEWIS AVE.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 112
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74136-1020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		918-488-8068

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6506 S. LEWIS AVE.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 112
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74136-1020

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICOMM RESOURCES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICOMM CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887396</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMPR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001057983</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITEHEAD ALBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6506 S. LEWIS AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 112</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>74136-1020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24268378</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2815283</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>BY TRUST</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">THE HOLDINGS SHOWN ARE HELD IN THE LACY E WHITEHEAD LIVING TRUST, WHICH IS THE REPORTING PERSONS SPOUSE.  THE REPORTING PERSON DISCLAIMS OWNERSHIP OF THESE HOLDINGS AND THIS REPORT SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED AN ADMISSION THAT THE REPORTING PERSON IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THESE HOLDINGS FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 16 OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSES.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ALBERT E. WHITEHEAD</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
