Empire subsidiary Great South Land Minerals Makes Application to Extend Exploration License 14/2009

May 21, 2012 - PRLog -- On 16th May 2012, Empire Energy Corporation International’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Great South Land Minerals Limited (GSLM), made further application to extend its current exploration licence EL14/2009 to continue its search for oil and gas onshore Tasmania Basin. GSLM’s application for extension is required in accordance with requirements of Tasmanian legislation to permit continuance of exploration activities.

As of 16 May 2012, GSLM has reported and expended approximately AUD$8 million on commitments for exploration activities associated with EL14/2009 and has committed to a further seismic program to acquire up to 300 line kilometres and has established commitments with a drilling contractor Hunt Energy Australia, Pty Ltd to resume drilling activities at the Bellevue #1 site in the Central Highlands of Tasmania followed by the Thunderbolt #1 site located in the Upper Derwent Valley. The project has taken significant time and resources to coordinate the required Petroleum exploration utilities, including resourcing of Rigs, Seismic Trucks and specialist personnel to properly manage these projects. There has been an Australia wide demand upon petroleum exploration resources in searching for coal seam methane and other petroleum resources in the last two years, in addition to the issues of Regional flooding in Australia stranding some operations. These logistical matters have been entirely outside of the company’s control and it has only been since the first quarter of 2012, that firm commercial commitments have been able to be made to remobilise on-ground exploration operations.

GSLM’s original proposed 5 year Exploration Licence for EL14/2009 as lodged with the Director of Mines on 30th September 2009 would have provided a more practical time frame in which to better coordinate and complete the present exploration program. The company believes that it has achieved within the practical realm of possibility, the required stages of the exploration program at the conclusion of the first 2 years of the licence period, and is now poised to continue the final stages of the drilling and seismic program, subject to the application for extension being granted.

Empire Energy Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration company, focusing on developing assets in one of the world's last virgin basins and to become a leading low-cost finder of hydrocarbons. The Company is currently operating in Tasmania's central and northern basins.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations about our company and our industry. These forward- looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of our ability to complete required financings and other preconditions to the completion of the transactions described herein and Empire's ability to successfully acquire reserves and produce its resources among other issues. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. We caution you not to place undue reliance on those statements. For a more detailed discussion of risks and other factors related to Empire Energy Corporation International, please refer to 10-K and 10-Q reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact: Malcolm Bendall
+61 3 6231 3529