SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 8,199,000	$ 4,912,000	$ 11,552,000	$ 14,403,000
Interest income	17,000	19,000	39,000	52,000
Total revenues	8,216,000	4,931,000	11,591,000	14,455,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	448,000	801,000	1,201,000	2,648,000
Impairment
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	1,154,000	0	1,154,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	539,000	2,033,000	218,000	4,239,000
Equity in income of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	2,200,000	988,000	2,616,000	1,444,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,436,000)	(1,891,000)	(4,805,000)	(6,270,000)
Interest expense	(19,000)	(76,000)	(85,000)	(248,000)
Interest income	17,000	19,000	39,000	52,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,301,000	1,073,000	(2,017,000)	(783,000)
Assets By Segment
Total assets	33,588,000		33,588,000		$ 41,553,000
Land investment
Equity in income of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	2,200,000	988,000	2,616,000	1,444,000
Intersegment Eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenues	768,000	2,196,000	2,237,000	7,260,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	351,000	707,000	930,000	2,362,000
Impairment
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	1,154,000	0	1,154,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(1,494,000)	(46,000)	(2,357,000)	(78,000)
Assets By Segment
Total assets	6,364,000		6,364,000		7,298,000
Operating Segments | Land investment
Revenues:
Revenues	1,502,000	1,266,000	1,915,000	3,115,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	1,502,000	1,266,000	1,915,000	3,115,000
Assets By Segment
Total assets	4,736,000		4,736,000		7,480,000
Operating Segments | Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenues	120,000	1,415,000	1,502,000	3,839,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	64,000	66,000	187,000	207,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(207,000)	534,000	(116,000)	820,000
Assets By Segment
Total assets	1,482,000		1,482,000		2,338,000
Operating Segments | Residential real estate segment
Revenues:
Revenues	5,700,000	0	5,700,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	190,000	0	190,000	0
Assets By Segment
Total assets	0		0		5,132,000
Corporate and other
Revenues:
Revenues	109,000	35,000	198,000	189,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	33,000	28,000	84,000	79,000
Assets By Segment
Total assets	3,189,000		3,189,000		3,257,000
Corporate and other | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Assets By Segment
Total assets	17,433,000		17,433,000		8,471,000
Corporate and other | Restricted Cash
Assets By Segment
Total assets	384,000		384,000		$ 7,577,000
Other operating profit (loss) | Corporate and other
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	76,000	7,000	114,000	110,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets | Corporate and other
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	$ 472,000	$ 272,000	$ 472,000	$ 272,000