SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	$ 25,182,000	$ 28,527,000
Interest income	87,000	18,000
Total revenues	25,269,000	28,545,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	4,457,000	2,778,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	0	89,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	5,173,000	11,630,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income of affiliates	758,000	3,400,000
General and administrative expenses	(6,956,000)	(8,044,000)
Foreign currency (gain) loss	76,000	(484,000)
Interest expense	(2,000)	(1,000)
Interest income	87,000	18,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(864,000)	6,519,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	12,540,000	13,805,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	35,421,000	37,215,000
Canada
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	16,734,000	19,187,000
United States
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	8,448,000	9,340,000
Intersegment eliminations | External Customer
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Corporate and other
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	14,000	5,000
Segment Reconciling Items, Cash And Cash Equivalents
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	2,830,000	12,804,000
Segment Reconciling Items, Asset For Retirement Benefits
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	4,471,000	3,385,000
Corporate, Non-Segment
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	248,000	289,000
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	19,376,000	22,581,000
Total revenues	19,376,000	22,581,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	4,269,000	2,606,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	4,673,000	10,536,000
Oil and natural gas | Canada
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	16,630,000	19,085,000
Oil and natural gas | United States
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	2,746,000	3,496,000
Oil and natural gas | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	12,212,000	13,755,000
Oil and natural gas | Operating segments | Canada
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	18,855,000	16,216,000
Oil and natural gas | Operating segments | United States
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	5,917,000	1,261,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	5,427,000	4,540,000
Total revenues	5,427,000	4,540,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	186,000	171,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	(428,000)	(222,000)
Contract drilling | Canada
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	0
Contract drilling | United States
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	5,427,000	4,540,000
Contract drilling | Operating segments
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	314,000	45,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	3,100,000	3,260,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	265,000	1,295,000
Total revenues	265,000	1,295,000
Impairment:
Impairment of assets	0	89,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	265,000	1,206,000
Land investment | Canada
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	0	0
Land investment | United States
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	265,000	1,295,000
Other
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	114,000	111,000
Total revenues	201,000	129,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,000	1,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	112,000	110,000
Other | Canada
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	104,000	102,000
Other | United States
Revenues:
Revenue before interest income	10,000	9,000
Gain on sale of assets
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses)	$ 551,000	$ 0