SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 2,951,000	$ 1,917,000	$ 5,525,000	$ 3,740,000
Interest income	12,000	58,000	33,000	91,000
Total revenues	2,963,000	1,975,000	5,558,000	3,831,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	758,000	227,000	1,577,000	507,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	243,000	37,000	2,413,000	37,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(530,000)	2,445,000	(3,598,000)	2,509,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(207,000)	(80,000)	(286,000)	(233,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,461,000)	(1,563,000)	(3,009,000)	(3,044,000)
Interest expense	0	0	(4,000)	0
Interest income	12,000	58,000	33,000	91,000
Loss (earnings) before income taxes	(2,186,000)	860,000	(6,864,000)	(677,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	1,924,000	859,000	3,156,000	1,812,000
Total revenues	1,924,000	859,000	3,156,000	1,812,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	684,000	157,000	1,433,000	356,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	243,000	0	2,413,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(252,000)	127,000	(3,276,000)	223,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	987,000	1,016,000	2,150,000	1,858,000
Total revenues	987,000	1,016,000	2,150,000	1,858,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	60,000	53,000	117,000	114,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(304,000)	80,000	(514,000)	40,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	165,000	0
Total revenues	0	0	165,000	0
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	37,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	(37,000)	165,000	(37,000)
Other
Revenues:
Revenue from contract with customer	40,000	42,000	54,000	70,000
Total revenues	52,000	100,000	87,000	161,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	14,000	17,000	27,000	37,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	26,000	25,000	27,000	33,000
Gain on sale of assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 2,250,000	0	$ 2,250,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			$ 0