Segment information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Oil and Gas operations
Operating revenue	$ 764	$ 820	$ 1,489
Operating expenses	687	1,183	1,233
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	494	617	620
Lease of Retirement Center	0	0	0
Impairment of oil and gas properties	0	2,717	0
Total Operating Expenses	1,181	4,517	1,853
Interest Income	23	0	0
Interest expense	(38)	(62)	(91)
Gain on prepayment of debt	888	0	0
Other income	0	0	(19)
Segment operating income (loss)	456	(3,759)	(474)
Assets Oil and Gas operations	6,641	7,420	10,621
Corporate
Operating revenue Corporate	0	0	0
Operating expenses Corporate	352	605	823
Total Operating Expenses Corporate	352	605	823
Interest Income Corporate	0	12	5
Gain on Sale of Land Corporate	50	0	0
Bad debt recovery Corporate	0	1,430	0
Other income Corporate	(110)	(32)	216
Segment operating income (loss) Corporate	(412)	805	(602)
Assets Oil and Gas operations Corporate	291	1,025	1,208
Total
Operating revenue Total	764	820	1,489
Operating expenses Total	1,039	1,788	2,056
Depreciation, depletion and amortization Total	494	617	620
Impairment of oil and gas properties Total	0	2,717	0
Total Operating Expenses Total	1,533	5,122	2,676
Interest Income Total	23	12	5
Interest expense Total	(38)	(62)	(91)
Gain on prepayment of debt Total	888	0	0
Bad debt recovery Total	0	1,430	0
Gain on Sale of Land Total	50	0	0
Other income Total	(110)	(32)	197
Segment operating income (loss) Total	44	(2,954)	(1,076)
Assets Oil and Gas operations Total	6,932	8,445	11,829
Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility
Operating revenue Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	2,665	2,997	2,874
Operating expenses Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	1,496	1,623	1,551
Depreciation, depletion and amortization Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	168	62	65
Lease of Retirement Center Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	997	980	961
Total Operating Expenses Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	2,661	2,665	2,577
Segment operating income (loss) Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	4	332	297
Assets Oil and Gas operations Discontinued Operations Retirement Facility	$ 246	$ 430	$ 445