SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	$ 5,184,000	$ 6,802,000	$ 14,675,000	$ 21,874,000
Interest income	19,000	8,000	52,000	18,000
Total revenues	5,203,000	6,810,000	14,727,000	21,892,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	801,000	1,296,000	2,648,000	5,364,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit	2,033,000	2,127,000	4,239,000	6,067,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	988,000	(113,000)	1,444,000	(376,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,891,000)	(1,844,000)	(6,270,000)	(6,049,000)
Interest expense	(76,000)	(165,000)	(248,000)	(520,000)
Interest income	19,000	8,000	52,000	18,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,073,000	13,000	(783,000)	(860,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	2,196,000	4,619,000	7,260,000	16,343,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	707,000	1,187,000	2,362,000	5,043,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit	(46,000)	1,321,000	(78,000)	4,526,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	1,266,000	258,000	3,115,000	378,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit	1,266,000	258,000	3,115,000	378,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	1,415,000	1,548,000	3,839,000	4,475,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	66,000	79,000	207,000	235,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit	534,000	201,000	820,000	571,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	307,000	377,000	461,000	678,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	28,000	30,000	79,000	86,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit	$ 279,000	$ 347,000	382,000	$ 592,000
Intersegment Eliminations
Revenues:
Revenue, Net			$ 0