SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 3,003,000	$ 1,548,000	$ 7,283,000	$ 3,420,000
Interest income	26,000	20,000	36,000	22,000
Total revenues	3,029,000	1,568,000	7,319,000	3,442,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	384,000	391,000	708,000	753,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	969,000	(475,000)	2,915,000	(254,000)
Equity in income of affiliates:
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates	(170,000)	253,000	2,156,000	416,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,752,000)	(1,574,000)	(3,775,000)	(3,436,000)
Interest expense	(2,000)	(33,000)	(6,000)	(66,000)
Interest income	26,000	20,000	36,000	22,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(929,000)	(1,809,000)	1,326,000	(3,318,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenues	1,409,000	621,000	2,550,000	1,469,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	292,000	305,000	527,000	579,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	317,000	(698,000)	377,000	(863,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenues	0	330,000	1,678,000	480,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	0	330,000	1,678,000	480,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenues	1,580,000	550,000	2,986,000	1,382,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	70,000	62,000	136,000	123,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	660,000	(130,000)	836,000	91,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenues	14,000	47,000	69,000	89,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	22,000	24,000	45,000	51,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	$ (8,000)	$ 23,000	24,000	$ 38,000
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues			$ 0