EXHIBIT 5.1

		1000 Main Street, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone {713} 226-6000 Telecopier {713} 228-1331 porterhedges.com

May 1, 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), related to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-274327) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The Prospectus Supplement relates to the issuance by the Company of up to $30,000,000 of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement dated May 1, 2026 between the Company and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given such terms in the Agreement.

For purposes of the opinions we express below, we have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified, of: (i) the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended to date, of the Company; (ii) the Registration Statement; (iii) the Prospectus; and (iv) the corporate records of the Company, including minute books of the Company, certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Company, statutes and other instruments and documents as we considered appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed. In giving such opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials with respect to the accuracy of the material factual matters contained in such certificates. In giving the opinions below, we have assumed that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are accurate and complete, that all documents submitted to us as copies are true and correct copies of the originals thereof and that all information submitted to us was accurate and complete.

In making our examination, we have assumed and have not verified (i) that all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and (iv) the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company, and such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor, in accordance with the Agreement.