SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 4,573,000	$ 2,951,000	$ 9,416,000	$ 5,525,000
Interest income	9,000	12,000	16,000	33,000
Total revenues	4,582,000	2,963,000	9,432,000	5,558,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	687,000	758,000	1,392,000	1,577,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	1,637,000	243,000	1,637,000	2,413,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	529,000	(530,000)	1,640,000	(3,598,000)
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(25,000)	(207,000)	(68,000)	(286,000)
General and administrative expenses	(2,031,000)	(1,461,000)	(3,527,000)	(3,009,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	(4,000)
Interest income	9,000	12,000	16,000	33,000
Loss before income taxes	(1,518,000)	(2,186,000)	(1,939,000)	(6,864,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,910,000	1,924,000	4,051,000	3,156,000
Total revenues	1,910,000	1,924,000	4,051,000	3,156,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	584,000	684,000	1,190,000	1,433,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	1,637,000	243,000	1,637,000	2,413,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(1,596,000)	(252,000)	(1,274,000)	(3,276,000)
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	2,593,000	987,000	5,239,000	2,150,000
Total revenues	2,593,000	987,000	5,239,000	2,150,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	91,000	60,000	176,000	117,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	731,000	(304,000)	1,478,000	(514,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	0	0	165,000
Total revenues	0	0	0	165,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	0	0	165,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	70,000	40,000	126,000	54,000
Total revenues	79,000	52,000	142,000	87,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	12,000	14,000	26,000	27,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	58,000	26,000	100,000	27,000
Gain on sale of asset
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 1,336,000	$ 0	1,336,000	$ 0
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			$ 0