SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 5,216,000	$ 6,678,000	$ 12,698,000	$ 12,131,000
Interest income	23,000	1,000	52,000	2,000
Total revenues	5,239,000	6,679,000	12,750,000	12,133,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	761,000	618,000	1,601,000	1,101,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	787,000	3,016,000	3,679,000	5,090,000
Equity in income of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	0	1,760,000	538,000	2,967,000
General and administrative expenses	(2,050,000)	(2,241,000)	(4,299,000)	(4,071,000)
Foreign currency gain	2,000	0	80,000	0
Interest income	23,000	1,000	52,000	2,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(1,238,000)	2,536,000	50,000	3,988,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	3,686,000	5,133,000	8,912,000	9,053,000
Total revenues	3,686,000	5,133,000	8,912,000	9,053,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	718,000	577,000	1,514,000	1,013,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	701,000	2,430,000	2,687,000	3,998,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,501,000	818,000	3,449,000	1,694,000
Total revenues	1,501,000	818,000	3,449,000	1,694,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	43,000	41,000	86,000	88,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	57,000	(141,000)	105,000	(292,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	695,000	265,000	1,295,000
Total revenues	0	695,000	265,000	1,295,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	695,000	265,000	1,295,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	29,000	32,000	72,000	89,000
Total revenues	52,000	33,000	124,000	91,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	0	0	1,000	0
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	29,000	32,000	71,000	89,000
Gain on sale of asset
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 551,000	$ 0