{"url_path":"/sec/ep/8-k/2026-06-22/item-5-02","section_key":"item-5-02","section_title":"Item 5.02 ****Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment","topic":"sec","document":{"doc_type":"8-K","doc_date":"2026-06-22","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/0001072613-26-000535-index.html","accession_number":"0001072613-26-000535","cik":"0000887396","ticker":"EP","issuer_name":"EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP","edgar_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/0001072613-26-000535-index.html","primary_entity_key":"0000887396","primary_entity_name":"EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP"},"word_count":233,"has_tables":true,"body_markdown":"**Item\n5.02****Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment\nof Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.**\n\n(e)        On\nJune 17, 2026, the stockholders of Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) approved the Company’s 2026 Stock\nand Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2026 Plan”). The 2026 Plan reserves 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common\nstock for issuance thereunder. As a result of such approval, no further awards will be made under the Company’s 2024 Stock and\nIncentive Compensation Plan.\n\n \n\nAll\nemployees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries and all non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to receive awards\nunder the 2026 Plan, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) or the Board\nof Directors. The Committee will administer the 2026 Plan. Awards under the 2026 Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of the\nfollowing forms: incentive stock options; non-qualified stock options; stock appreciation rights; restricted stock; restricted\nstock units; performance shares; performance units; cash-based awards; and other stock-based awards.\n\n \n\nA\nmore detailed description of the 2026 Plan is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting\nof Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2026. The 2026 Plan is filed as Exhibit 10 to\nthis Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein."}