SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Total before interest income	$ 12,352,000	$ 8,971,000	$ 28,005,000	$ 29,557,000
Interest income	6,000	18,000	21,000	32,000
Total revenues	12,358,000	8,989,000	28,026,000	29,589,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,456,000	2,461,000	8,171,000	7,334,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets			1,854,000	311,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	408,000	2,712,000	1,862,000	10,423,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,877,000)	(1,201,000)	(6,090,000)	(7,334,000)
Interest expense	(200,000)	(242,000)	(638,000)	(862,000)
Interest income	6,000	18,000	21,000	32,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(1,663,000)	1,287,000	(4,845,000)	2,259,000
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Total before interest income	4,940,000	7,657,000	19,137,000	22,644,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,299,000	2,299,000	7,701,000	6,840,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	199,000	2,393,000	3,461,000	7,359,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Total before interest income	129,000	681,000	482,000	3,742,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets				190,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	129,000	681,000	482,000	3,552,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Total before interest income	1,212,000	490,000	1,918,000	2,871,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	128,000	138,000	385,000	423,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	28,000	(481,000)	(620,000)	(596,000)
Residential real estate
Revenues:
Total before interest income	5,975,000		5,975,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets			1,854,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	(15,000)		(1,869,000)
Other
Revenues:
Total before interest income	96,000	143,000	493,000	300,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	29,000	24,000	85,000	71,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets				121,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	$ 67,000	$ 119,000	$ 408,000	$ 108,000