SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 18,105,000	$ 18,329,000
Interest income	8,000	18,000
Total revenues	18,113,000	18,347,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	963,000	2,147,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	668,000	4,376,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	6,345,000	779,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	5,793,000	352,000
General and administrative expenses	(7,088,000)	(5,820,000)
Interest expense	(13,000)	(3,000)
Interest income	8,000	18,000
Gain on debt extinguishment	149,000	0
Gain on termination of post-retirement medical plan	2,341,000	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	7,535,000	(4,674,000)
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	3,091,000	3,514,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	24,435,000	15,182,000
Corporate and other
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	1,000	7,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	2,684,000	2,246,000
Corporate and other | Cash and other
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	11,279,000	4,584,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	10,254,000	6,693,000
Total revenues	10,254,000	6,693,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	645,000	1,747,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	630,000	4,326,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	2,423,000	(4,230,000)
Oil and natural gas | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	3,028,000	3,099,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	6,401,000	3,613,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,738,000	325,000
Total revenues	1,738,000	325,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	0	50,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	1,738,000	275,000
Land investment | Operating segments
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	0	901,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	5,809,000	10,994,000
Total revenues	5,809,000	10,994,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	305,000	356,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	38,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(89,000)	3,125,000
Contract drilling | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	62,000	408,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	4,071,000	3,838,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	304,000	317,000
Total revenues	312,000	335,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	13,000	44,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	291,000	273,000
Gain on sale of assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 1,982,000	$ 1,336,000