SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 3,998,000	$ 4,573,000	$ 8,385,000	$ 9,416,000
Interest income	0	9,000	0	16,000
Total revenues	3,998,000	4,582,000	8,385,000	9,432,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	227,000	687,000	503,000	1,392,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	1,637,000	630,000	1,637,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	547,000	529,000	1,485,000	1,640,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	624,000	(25,000)	1,678,000	(68,000)
General and administrative expenses	(1,928,000)	(2,031,000)	(3,113,000)	(3,527,000)
Interest expense	(3,000)	0	(4,000)	0
Interest income	0	9,000	0	16,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(760,000)	(1,518,000)	46,000	(1,939,000)
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	2,552,000	1,910,000	4,439,000	4,051,000
Total revenues	2,552,000	1,910,000	4,439,000	4,051,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	146,000	584,000	341,000	1,190,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	1,637,000	630,000	1,637,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	647,000	(1,596,000)	274,000	(1,274,000)
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,389,000	2,593,000	3,331,000	5,239,000
Total revenues	1,389,000	2,593,000	3,331,000	5,239,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	77,000	91,000	153,000	176,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(153,000)	731,000	605,000	1,478,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	0	485,000	0
Total revenues	0	0	485,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	0	485,000	0
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	57,000	70,000	130,000	126,000
Total revenues	57,000	79,000	130,000	142,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	4,000	12,000	9,000	26,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	53,000	58,000	121,000	100,000
Gain on sale of asset
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 1,336,000	$ 0	$ 1,336,000