Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies From time to time, Empire is subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings for which Empire may not have insurance coverage. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, as of the date hereof, Empire does not currently believe that any such legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on Empire’s business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Empire is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws, among other things, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require Empire to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal or release of petroleum or chemical substances at various sites. Management believes no materially significant liabilities of this nature existed as of the balance sheet date. Agreed Compliance Order In January 2024, the Company deposited $1.0 million into an escrow account in accordance with an Agreed Compliance Order (“ACO”) with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (“NMOCD”) for compliance work on certain inactive wells in New Mexico. Under the terms of the ACO, the escrow funds will be returned to the Company at a rate of $0.01 million for each well as the compliance work is completed. As of June 30, 2024, all work had been completed, and the Company expects to receive the remaining outstanding escrow amount of $0.2 million in 2025. New Mexico Trespass In December 2023, the Company initiated a legal action in the Fifth Judicial District Court, Lea County, New Mexico, against a saltwater company for trespassing and illegal wastewater dumping within one of the New Mexico water flood units. Certain of these matters implicate regulatory rulings and actions from either the NMOCD or the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission. Management continues to evaluate the potential outcomes; however, it cannot be determined at this time, and no amount has been recognized due to the uncertainty of any conclusions that may arise as a result of such action.

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2025

Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, Empire is subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings for which Empire may not have insurance coverage. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, as of the date hereof, Empire does not currently believe that any such legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on Empire’s business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Empire is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws, among other things, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require Empire to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal or release of petroleum or chemical substances at various sites. Management believes no materially significant liabilities of this nature existed as of the balance sheet date.

Agreed Compliance Order

In January 2024, the Company deposited $1.0 million into an escrow account in accordance with an Agreed Compliance Order (“ACO”) with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (“NMOCD”) for compliance work on certain inactive wells in New Mexico. Under the terms of the ACO, the escrow funds will be returned to the Company at a rate of $0.01 million for each well as the compliance work is completed. As of June 30, 2024, all work had been completed, and the Company expects to receive the remaining outstanding escrow amount of $0.2 million in 2025.

New Mexico Trespass

In December 2023, the Company initiated a legal action in the Fifth Judicial District Court, Lea County, New Mexico, against a saltwater company for trespassing and illegal wastewater dumping within one of the New Mexico water flood units. Certain of these matters implicate regulatory rulings and actions from either the NMOCD or the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission. Management continues to evaluate the potential outcomes; however, it cannot be determined at this time, and no amount has been recognized due to the uncertainty of any conclusions that may arise as a result of such action.