SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 5,108,000	$ 3,983,000	$ 13,493,000	$ 13,399,000
Interest income	6,000	1,000	6,000	17,000
Total revenues	5,114,000	3,984,000	13,499,000	13,416,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	235,000	478,000	738,000	1,870,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	2,689,000	630,000	4,326,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	2,130,000	(2,132,000)	3,615,000	(492,000)
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	3,348,000	(111,000)	5,026,000	(179,000)
General and administrative expenses	(2,227,000)	(1,248,000)	(5,340,000)	(4,775,000)
Interest expense	(2,000)	(1,000)	(6,000)	(1,000)
Interest income	6,000	1,000	6,000	17,000
Gain on debt extinguishment	149,000	0	149,000	0
Gain on termination of post-retirement medical plan	2,341,000	0	2,341,000	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	5,745,000	(3,491,000)	5,791,000	(5,430,000)
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	2,887,000	830,000	7,326,000	4,881,000
Total revenues	2,887,000	830,000	7,326,000	4,881,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	155,000	372,000	496,000	1,562,000
Asset Impairment Charges
Impairment of assets	0	2,689,000	630,000	4,326,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	1,015,000	(3,212,000)	1,289,000	(4,486,000)
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	889,000	3,040,000	4,220,000	8,279,000
Total revenues	889,000	3,040,000	4,220,000	8,279,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	76,000	96,000	229,000	272,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(213,000)	977,000	392,000	2,455,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,253,000	0	1,738,000	0
Total revenues	1,253,000	0	1,738,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	1,253,000	0	1,738,000	0
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	79,000	113,000	209,000	239,000
Total revenues	85,000	114,000	215,000	256,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	4,000	10,000	13,000	36,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	75,000	103,000	196,000	203,000
Gain on sale of asset
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,336,000