SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 3,122,000		$ 1,319,000	$ 6,862,000	$ 8,602,000
Interest income	46,000		21,000	137,000	57,000
Total revenues	3,168,000		1,340,000	6,999,000	8,659,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	187,000		234,000	694,000	942,000
Impairment:
Impairment	165,000		0	202,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	1,152,000		399,000	3,661,000	3,314,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Land investment	136,000		(31,000)	(97,000)	2,125,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,591,000)		(1,345,000)	(4,635,000)	(5,126,000)
Interest income	46,000		21,000	137,000	57,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(257,000)		(956,000)	(934,000)	370,000
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenues	616,000		940,000	2,428,000	3,490,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	121,000		145,000	477,000	672,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(49,000)		175,000	174,000	552,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenues	1,310,000		0	1,310,000	1,678,000
Impairment:
Impairment	0	$ 37,000	0	37,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	1,310,000		0	1,273,000	1,678,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenues	1,193,000		360,000	3,051,000	3,346,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	55,000		69,000	169,000	205,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	64,000		(302,000)	104,000	534,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenues	3,000		19,000	73,000	88,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	11,000		20,000	48,000	65,000
Impairment:
Impairment	165,000		0	165,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	(173,000)		(1,000)	(140,000)	23,000
Gain on sales of assets
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss)	$ 0		$ 527,000	2,250,000	$ 527,000
Intersegment Eliminations
Revenues:
Revenues				$ 0