Cover - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000887396
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		48,520,712
Entity Public Float			$ 9,707,988
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes