SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 28,527,000	$ 18,105,000
Interest income	18,000	8,000
Total revenues	28,545,000	18,113,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,778,000	963,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	89,000	668,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	11,630,000	6,345,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	3,400,000	5,793,000
General and administrative expenses	(8,044,000)	(7,088,000)
Foreign currency loss	(484,000)	0
Interest expense	(1,000)	(13,000)
Interest income	18,000	8,000
Gain on debt extinguishment	0	149,000
Gain on termination of post-retirement medical plan	0	2,341,000
Earnings before income taxes	6,519,000	7,535,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	13,805,000	3,091,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	37,215,000	24,435,000
Corporate and other
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	5,000	1,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	3,674,000	2,684,000
Corporate and other | Cash and other
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	12,804,000	11,279,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	22,581,000	10,254,000
Total revenues	22,581,000	10,254,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,606,000	645,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	0	630,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	10,536,000	2,423,000
Oil and natural gas | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	13,755,000	3,028,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	17,477,000	6,401,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,295,000	1,738,000
Total revenues	1,295,000	1,738,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	89,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	1,206,000	1,738,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	4,540,000	5,809,000
Total revenues	4,540,000	5,809,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	171,000	305,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	0	38,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(222,000)	(89,000)
Contract drilling | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	45,000	62,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	3,260,000	4,071,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	111,000	304,000
Total revenues	129,000	312,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	1,000	13,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	110,000	291,000
Gain on sale of assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 1,982,000