EP Empire Petroleum Corporation

FORM 4 ☐ Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Mulacek Phil E	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP [ EP ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director                    __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) 25025 I 45 NORTH, SUITE 420	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 5/30/2023
(Street) THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)        (State)        (Zip)	Rule 10b5-1(c) Transaction Indication ☐ Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	5/30/2023		P		5153	A	$8.83 (1)	2477494	D
Common Stock	5/31/2023		P		20377	A	$8.99 (2)	2497871	D
Common Stock								424500	I	By Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC
Common Stock								378750	I	By Big Red Revocable Trust
Common Stock								343750	I	By Five Sterling LP
Common Stock								30000	I	By spouse

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	The price reported in column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.62 to $9.09, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Empire Petroleum Corporation, any security holder of Empire Petroleum Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnotes (1) and (2) to this Form 4.
(2)	The price reported in column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.63 to $9.42, inclusive.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Mulacek Phil E 25025 I 45 NORTH SUITE 420 THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380	X	X

Signatures
/s/ Phil E. Mulacek		6/1/2023
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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