SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 2,574,000	$ 1,823,000
Interest income	21,000	33,000
Total revenues	2,595,000	1,856,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	819,000	280,000
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Impairment of assets	2,170,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):	(3,068,000)	64,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(79,000)	(153,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,548,000)	(1,481,000)
Interest expense	(4,000)	0
Interest income	21,000	33,000
Loss before income taxes	(4,678,000)	(1,537,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	1,232,000	953,000
Total revenues	1,232,000	953,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	749,000	199,000
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Impairment of assets	2,170,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):	(3,024,000)	96,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	1,163,000	842,000
Total revenues	1,163,000	842,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	57,000	61,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):	(210,000)	(40,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	165,000	0
Total revenues	165,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):	165,000	0
Other
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	14,000	28,000
Total revenues	35,000	61,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	13,000	20,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):	1,000	$ 8,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 0