Perth, Aug 18, 2008 (ABN Newswire) - Empire Oil & Gas (ASX:EGO)(PINK:EOLGF) is pleased to advise that its wholly owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, was granted approval to drill the Bee-Eater-1 well in EP 359 in the Exmouth Sub Basin, Western Australia received on 15 August 2008 from the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources.

This drilling approval is in addition to the approval of the Environmental Management Plan announced on 14 August 2008. Since the EMP approval, the Bee-Eater-1 well location work has now been completed and is ready for drilling.

The Company plans to drill the Bee-Eater-1 well together with the EP 359 Joint Venture and the EP 359 farminees with DCA Rig 7 following the Company drilling the Lake MacLeod-1 well.

Empire is in the process of lodging the Application to Drill Rainbow-1 sited on the extension of the Bee-Eater-1 structure in the adjoining Permit EP 435. Drilling Rainbow-1 will be progressed with the EP 435 joint venture upon a Bee-Eater-1 oil discovery.

The participants in the Bee-Eater-1 well in EP 359 are:

Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd (Empire) - 33.36% (Operator)
Victoria Petroleum N.L. - 31.65%
Pace Petroleum Pty Ltd - 1.67%
Farminees - 33.32%