SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 3,392,000	$ 3,122,000	$ 8,917,000	$ 6,862,000
Interest income	17,000	46,000	50,000	137,000
Total revenues	3,409,000	3,168,000	8,967,000	6,999,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	731,000	187,000	2,308,000	694,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	165,000	2,413,000	202,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	105,000	1,152,000	(3,493,000)	3,661,000
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates:
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates	(259,000)	136,000	(545,000)	(97,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,352,000)	(1,591,000)	(4,361,000)	(4,635,000)
Interest expense	0	0	(4,000)	0
Interest income	17,000	46,000	50,000	137,000
Loss before income taxes	(1,489,000)	(257,000)	(8,353,000)	(934,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,688,000	616,000	4,844,000	2,428,000
Total revenues	1,688,000	616,000	4,844,000	2,428,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	639,000	121,000	2,072,000	477,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	0	2,413,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(265,000)	(49,000)	(3,541,000)	174,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,689,000	1,193,000	3,839,000	3,051,000
Total revenues	1,689,000	1,193,000	3,839,000	3,051,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	78,000	55,000	195,000	169,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	369,000	64,000	(145,000)	104,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	1,310,000	165,000	1,310,000
Total revenues	0	1,310,000	165,000	1,310,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	0	0	37,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	1,310,000	165,000	1,273,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	15,000	3,000	69,000	73,000
Total revenues	32,000	49,000	119,000	210,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	14,000	11,000	41,000	48,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	165,000	0	165,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	1,000	(173,000)	28,000	(140,000)
Gain on sale of assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 0	0	$ 2,250,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			$ 0