SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 5,650,000	$ 8,028,000	$ 18,348,000	$ 20,159,000
Interest income	25,000	0	77,000	2,000
Total revenues	5,675,000	8,028,000	18,425,000	20,161,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	1,257,000	814,000	2,858,000	1,915,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	305,000	3,945,000	3,984,000	9,035,000
Equity in income of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	0	433,000	538,000	3,400,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,328,000)	(1,713,000)	(5,627,000)	(5,784,000)
Foreign currency gain	121,000	0	201,000	0
Interest expense	(1,000)	(1,000)	(1,000)	(1,000)
Interest income	25,000	0	77,000	2,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(878,000)	2,664,000	(828,000)	6,652,000
Intersegment eliminations
Revenues:
Total revenues			0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	4,503,000	7,292,000	13,415,000	16,345,000
Total revenues	4,503,000	7,292,000	13,415,000	16,345,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	1,210,000	772,000	2,724,000	1,785,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	287,000	4,123,000	2,974,000	8,121,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	1,134,000	736,000	4,583,000	2,430,000
Total revenues	1,134,000	736,000	4,583,000	2,430,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	47,000	41,000	133,000	129,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	5,000	(177,000)	110,000	(469,000)
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	0	265,000	1,295,000
Total revenues	0	0	265,000	1,295,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	0	0	265,000	1,295,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	13,000	0	85,000	89,000
Total revenues	38,000	0	162,000	91,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	0	1,000	1,000	1,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	13,000	(1,000)	84,000	88,000
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