INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	$ 489,000	$ 425,000
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	(103,000)	422,000
Oil and natural gas
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Increase (decrease) in capital expenditure accruals related to oil and natural gas exploration and development	(1,329,000)	1,259,000
Increase in capital expenditure accruals related to oil and natural gas asset retirement obligations	$ 58,000	$ 48,000

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the capital expenditure accruals related to oil and natural gas exploration and development.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

+ References

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the carrying amount of asset retirement obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

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