CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (943,000)	$ (1,522,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in (income) loss of affiliates	(1,444,000)	376,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,648,000	5,364,000
Gain on sale of contract drilling assets	(272,000)	0
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	157,000	(271,000)
Loss on sale of investment	16,000	0
Retirement benefits expense	305,000	184,000
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	458,000	330,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	796,000	(225,000)
Asset retirement obligation payments	(562,000)	(110,000)
Share-based compensation benefit	(69,000)	(209,000)
Retirement plan contributions	(254,000)	(354,000)
Sale of interest in leasehold land, net	(3,115,000)	(378,000)
(Decrease) increase from changes in current assets and liabilities	(3,087,000)	1,302,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(5,366,000)	4,487,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of interest in leasehold land, net of fees paid	3,115,000	378,000
Proceeds from sale of contract drilling assets	368,000	0
Proceeds from sale of investment, net of closing costs	266,000	0
Proceeds from sale of oil and natural gas assets	0	8,448,000
Proceeds from gas over bitumen royalty adjustments	0	12,000
Payment to acquire interest in affiliates	0	(5,140,000)
Payment to acquire oil and natural gas properties	(526,000)	0
Capital expenditures - oil and natural gas	(878,000)	(3,382,000)
Capital expenditures - all other	(197,000)	(42,000)
Net cash provided by investing activities	2,148,000	274,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	0	5,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,645,000)	(5,606,000)
Increase in restricted cash	(275,000)	(1,892,000)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	120,000	170,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(609,000)	(13,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,409,000)	(2,341,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(782,000)	7,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(7,409,000)	2,427,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,104,000	7,828,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 8,695,000	$ 10,255,000