SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Total before interest income	$ 6,015,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 7,197,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Interest income	17,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	4,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Total revenues	6,032,000us-gaap_Revenues	7,201,000us-gaap_Revenues
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	979,000	2,164,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	1,888,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	1,100,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity in loss of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	88,000	(147,000)
General and administrative expenses	(2,275,000)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	(1,856,000)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Interest expense	(90,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(163,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest income	17,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	4,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Loss before income taxes	(372,000)	(1,062,000)
Intersegment elimination
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Total before interest income	2,972,000	5,327,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	883,000	2,059,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	466,000	647,000
Land investment
Revenues:
Total before interest income	1,032,000	120,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	1,032,000	120,000
Equity in loss of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	88,000	(147,000)
Contract drilling
Revenues:
Total before interest income	1,933,000	1,609,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	71,000	78,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	337,000	219,000
Other
Revenues:
Total before interest income	78,000	141,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Total depletion, depreciation, and amortization	25,000	27,000
Operating profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit	$ 53,000	$ 114,000

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