SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	$ 28,017,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 24,563,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Gain on sale of investments	3,399,000us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
Interest income	29,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	45,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Total revenues	31,445,000us-gaap_Revenues	24,608,000us-gaap_Revenues
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	6,391,000	8,542,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Reduction of carrying value of assets		4,506,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	7,686,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(716,000)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity in loss of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(482,000)
General and administrative expenses	(8,026,000)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	(8,911,000)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Interest expense	(664,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(587,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Gain on sale of investments	3,399,000us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
Interest income	29,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	45,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,942,000	(10,169,000)
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	4,923,000	7,525,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	54,770,000us-gaap_Assets	62,714,000us-gaap_Assets
Intersegment elimination
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	20,298,000	21,376,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	5,968,000	8,034,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets:
Reduction of carrying value of assets		4,506,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	5,416,000	(1,156,000)
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	4,824,000	7,506,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	20,951,000	40,559,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	636,000	282,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	636,000	282,000
Equity in loss of affiliates:
Equity in loss of affiliates	(482,000)
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	7,039,000	2,381,000
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	6,287,000	2,338,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	309,000	394,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	952,000	(295,000)
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	48,000	17,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	1,849,000	2,905,000
Residential real estate
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	5,448,000	5,448,000
Other
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	796,000	567,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	114,000	114,000
Operating profit (loss) (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	682,000	453,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	51,000	2,000
Other \| Cash and cash equivalents
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	16,104,000	7,828,000
Corporate and other
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	$ 3,379,000	$ 3,593,000

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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