08:18 AM EDT, 08/15/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Empire Petroleum ( EP ) said Friday that the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission has issued a ruling confirming the company's rights to the residual oil zone in the Eunice Monument South Unit unitized interval in Lea County, New Mexico.

The company said the ruling allows it to move forward with a carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery pilot project over the next three years, while protecting its assets.

Additionally, the commission denied Goodnight Midstream Permian's applications for five new injection wells, rejected Goodnight's application for increased injection, and suspended injection operations on Goodnight's existing four wells, Empire said.

Empire said it plans to file motions to revoke existing permits granted to other third-party saltwater disposal operators disposing wastewater into the Eunice Monument South Unit and unitized interval of the Arrowhead Grayburg Unit.