SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 1,319,000	$ 8,472,000	$ 8,602,000	$ 11,892,000
Interest income	21,000	17,000	57,000	39,000
Total revenues	1,340,000	8,489,000	8,659,000	11,931,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	234,000	448,000	942,000	1,201,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	0	1,154,000	0	1,154,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	399,000	812,000	3,314,000	558,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates	(31,000)	2,200,000	2,125,000	2,616,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,344,000)	(1,709,000)	(5,119,000)	(5,145,000)
Interest expense	(1,000)	(19,000)	(7,000)	(85,000)
Interest income	21,000	17,000	57,000	39,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(956,000)	1,301,000	370,000	(2,017,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenues	940,000	768,000	3,490,000	2,237,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	145,000	351,000	672,000	930,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	0	1,154,000	0	1,154,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	175,000	(1,494,000)	552,000	(2,357,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenues	0	1,775,000	1,678,000	2,255,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	0	1,775,000	1,678,000	2,255,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenues	360,000	120,000	3,346,000	1,502,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	69,000	64,000	205,000	187,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(302,000)	(207,000)	534,000	(116,000)
Residential Real Estate
Revenues:
Revenues	0	5,700,000	0	5,700,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	0	190,000	0	190,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenues	19,000	109,000	88,000	198,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	20,000	33,000	65,000	84,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(1,000)	76,000	23,000	114,000
Intersegment Eliminations
Revenues:
Revenues			0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	$ 527,000	$ 472,000	$ 527,000	$ 472,000