SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 3,983,000	$ 3,392,000	$ 13,399,000	$ 8,917,000
Interest income	1,000	17,000	17,000	50,000
Total revenues	3,984,000	3,409,000	13,416,000	8,967,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	478,000	731,000	1,870,000	2,308,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	2,689,000	0	4,326,000	2,413,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(2,132,000)	105,000	(492,000)	(3,493,000)
Equity in (loss) income of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(111,000)	(259,000)	(179,000)	(545,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,248,000)	(1,352,000)	(4,775,000)	(4,361,000)
Interest expense	(1,000)	0	(1,000)	(4,000)
Interest income	1,000	17,000	17,000	50,000
Loss before income taxes	(3,491,000)	(1,489,000)	(5,430,000)	(8,353,000)
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	830,000	1,688,000	4,881,000	4,844,000
Total revenues	830,000	1,688,000	4,881,000	4,844,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	372,000	639,000	1,562,000	2,072,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	2,689,000	0	4,326,000	2,413,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(3,212,000)	(265,000)	(4,486,000)	(3,541,000)
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	3,040,000	1,689,000	8,279,000	3,839,000
Total revenues	3,040,000	1,689,000	8,279,000	3,839,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	96,000	78,000	272,000	195,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	977,000	369,000	2,455,000	(145,000)
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	113,000	15,000	239,000	69,000
Total revenues	114,000	32,000	256,000	119,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	10,000	14,000	36,000	41,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	103,000	1,000	203,000	28,000
Gain on sale of asset
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 0	1,336,000	$ 0
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			$ 0