COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	14.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES From time to time, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings for which the Company may not have insurance coverage. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, as of the date hereof, the Company does not currently believe that any such legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity. The Company 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 the Company 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 September 30, 2021. On March 22, 2021 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire ND Acquisitions, LLC, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with 31 Group, LLC to acquire among other things, certain oil and gas properties in North Dakota. The purchase price was $900,000, payable one year from the closing date, and is reduced by certain expenses which the Company might incur relating to the properties or assessment of certain wells as uneconomic for up to one year from the closing date. Prior to filing the assignment and the transfer of operatorship of the wells, Empire received notice of a temporary restraining order issued by the District Court in Rockwall County, Texas enjoining 31 Group from transferring any assets to Empire. The Company and 31 Group, LLC negotiated a termination agreement that was signed July 22, 2021 which returned both parties to their pre-Agreement position.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

14.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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

The Company 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 the Company 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 September 30, 2021.

On March 22, 2021 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire ND Acquisitions, LLC, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with 31 Group, LLC to acquire among other things, certain oil and gas properties in North Dakota. The purchase price was $900,000, payable one year from the closing date, and is reduced by certain expenses which the Company might incur relating to the properties or assessment of certain wells as uneconomic for up to one year from the

closing date. Prior to filing the assignment and the transfer of operatorship of the wells, Empire received notice of a temporary restraining order issued by the District Court in Rockwall County, Texas enjoining 31 Group from transferring any assets to Empire. The Company and 31 Group, LLC negotiated a termination agreement that was signed July 22, 2021 which returned both parties to their pre-Agreement position.