SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Total before interest income	$ 34,040,000	$ 38,421,000
Interest income	22,000	39,000
Total revenues	34,062,000	38,460,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	10,990,000	10,127,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets	6,647,000	1,228,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	(3,023,000)	11,780,000
General and administrative expenses	(8,268,000)	(9,025,000)
Interest expense	(790,000)	(1,088,000)
Interest income	22,000	39,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(12,059,000)	1,706,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	5,022,000	15,404,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	69,890,000	88,772,000
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	8,845,000	9,834,000
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Total before interest income	24,610,000	30,228,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	10,367,000	9,469,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets	2,551,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	1,247,000	9,355,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	4,915,000	13,299,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	46,946,000	54,454,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Total before interest income	482,000	3,742,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets	488,000	689,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	(6,000)	3,053,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	2,381,000	2,869,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Total before interest income	2,340,000	3,855,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	509,000	560,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	(1,160,000)	(587,000)
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	72,000	186,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	2,963,000	3,660,000
Residential real estate
Revenues:
Total before interest income	5,975,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets	1,854,000	418,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	(1,869,000)	(418,000)
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	5,309,000	12,640,000
Other
Revenues:
Total before interest income	633,000	596,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	114,000	98,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Total reduction of carrying value of assets	1,754,000	121,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating (loss) profit	(1,235,000)	377,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	35,000	1,919,000
Corporate and other
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	$ 3,446,000	$ 5,315,000