Exhibit 99.1

Emerald Oil Enters into Definitive Agreement to Sell Undeveloped Leaseholds

DENVER, CO – December 24, 2015 --- Emerald Oil, Inc. (NYSE MKT: EOX) (“Emerald” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Angelus Private Equity Group (“Angelus”) pursuant to which Angelus will acquire a portion of the Company’s undeveloped leaseholds in Montana and North Dakota, consisting of approximately 9,750 net acres, as well as certain production from non-operated wells, for approximately $9.75 million. The Company intends to use all proceeds to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. 

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities by the parties thereto, and the closing of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions as described therein. The effective date of the transaction is December 18, 2015, and the Company expects to close the acquisition on or about January 22, 2015.

About Emerald

Emerald is an independent exploration and production operator that is focused on acquiring acreage and developing wells in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana, targeting the Bakken and Three Forks shale oil formations and Pronghorn sand oil formation. Emerald is based in Denver, Colorado. More information about Emerald can be found at www.emeraldoil.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this document may include statements regarding the Company’s expectations regarding the Company’s operational, exploration and development plans; expectations regarding the nature and amount of the Company’s reserves; and expectations regarding production, revenues, cash flows and recoveries. When used in this press release, the words "will," "potential," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "plan," "predict," "project," "profile," "model," or their negatives, other similar expressions or the statements that include those words, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil and natural gas reserves and projecting future rates of production and timing of development activities, competition, operating risks, acquisition risks, liquidity and capital requirements, the effects of governmental regulation, adverse changes in the market for the Company’s oil and natural gas production, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company’s periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Corporate Contact:

Emerald Oil, Inc.

Mitch Ayer

Vice President - Finance & Investor Relations

(303) 595-5600

info@emeraldoil.com

www.emeraldoil.com