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Empire Petroleum Corporation (“Empire”) (OTCQB:EMPR) announced today that it has acquired producing oil and gas assets located in Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, McHenry, McKenzie, Mountrail, Renville, Stark & Williams counties in North Dakota and Richland & Sheridan counties in Montana through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire North Dakota LLC. The assets were acquired from EnergyQuest II, LLC, in a transaction that has been previously reported by Empire in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In connection with financing for the acquisition, Empire’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Empire Louisiana LLC d/b/a Empire Louisiana of Delaware and Empire North Dakota LLC entered into a first amendment of Empire’s existing senior revolver loan agreement with CrossFirst Bank located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The first amendment increased (a) the initial revolver commitment from $1,350,000 to $9,000,000 and (b) and the maximum principal amount that may be advanced from $5,000,000 to $20,000,000.
The acquired producing assets are comprised of 184 producing oil and gas wells with predictable, low decline production profiles, low risk workover opportunities, undeveloped new drilling opportunities and other potential operating and production enhancements to improve unit operating costs and improve existing margins. The properties are currently producing approximately 375 BOEPD (Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day), net to the Empire’s working interest and encompasses approximately 20,700 acres of leasehold. Empire North Dakota LLC will operate 139 wells, 19 in Montana and 120 in North Dakota.
“Our combined assets are now producing over 450 BOEPD, primarily oil,” stated Mike Morrisett, President. “The experienced team at CrossFirst Bank did an outstanding job processing an amendment to our original loan and facilitating the timely acquisition of these assets.”
CEO Tommy Pritchard added, “This acquisition continues our disciplined growth strategy to acquire and manage mature producing oil properties with predictable, low decline, long life production. These assets also have additional upside in undeveloped resources that we believe will allow Empire to maximize production while minimizing costs through a low-risk, low-cost drill program. The pipeline of growth opportunities remains robust and we are currently evaluating deal flow with a focus on building scale within our core geographical areas of operation.”
About Empire Petroleum Corporation
Empire Petroleum Corporation is a publicly-traded, Tulsa-based oil and gas company with current producing assets in Louisiana, North Dakota and Montana. Management is focused on targeted acquisitions of proved developed assets with synergies with its existing portfolio of wells. Empire looks for assets where its operational team can deploy rigorous field/well management techniques to reduce unit operating costs and improve margins while optimizing production. Empire works to create shareholder value through strong free cash flow generation.
