SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 item	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Foreign currency remeasurement and transaction gains (losses)	$ (800,000)	$ 700,000	$ 300,000
RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	30,200,000	25,700,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents from initial capitalization of captive company	2,000,000
Additional cash and cash equivalents restricted at the election of management for potential insurance claims	28,200,000
Prepaid expenses and other	28,244,000	23,691,000
Other assets	2,000,000	2,000,000
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Depreciation associated with abandonments	23,000,000	9,100,000	16,400,000
Number of idle conventional rigs decommissioned	9
CAPITALIZATION OF INTEREST
Capitalized interest	7,700,000	8,800,000	12,900,000
DRILLING REVENUES
Reimbursements received	328,900,000	332,500,000	329,700,000
RENT REVENUES
Minimum rents	9,400,000	9,009,000	8,757,000
Overage and percentage rents	1,090,000	1,384,000	1,485,000
Fiscal Year
2015	8,404,000
2016	6,839,000
2017	5,618,000
2018	4,077,000
2019	3,000,000
Thereafter	6,352,000
Total	34,290,000
Cost and accumulated depreciation for real estate properties
Real estate properties	64,812,000	63,542,000
Accumulated depreciation	(42,754,000)	(41,847,000)
Real estate properties, Net	$ 22,058,000	$ 21,695,000
Minimum
RENT REVENUES
Lease term	3 years
Maximum
RENT REVENUES
Lease term	10 years
Contract drilling equipment | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	4 years
Contract drilling equipment | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	15 years
Real estate buildings and equipment | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Real estate buildings and equipment | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	45 years
Other assets | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Other assets | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	23 years