Quarterly Operations Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
First Quarter Details
First Quarter Revenue	$ 219	$ 172	$ 344
First Quarter Operating (expense)	(396)	(470)	(483)
First Quarter Corporate general and administrative expense	(166)	(154)	(192)
First Quarter Gain on prepayment of debt	0	0	0
First Quarter Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	0	0	0
First Quarter Recovery of bad debt	0	738	0
First Quarter Other income (expense) net	(10)	(34)	202
First Quarter Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(353)	252	(129)
First Quarter Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	57	62	89
First Quarter Income (loss) allocable to common shareholders	$ (296)	$ 314	$ (40)
First Quarter Income (loss) per common share - basic	$ (0.15)	$ 0.16	$ (0.02)
Second Quarter Details
Second Quarter Revenue	$ 170	$ 259	$ 485
Second Quarter Operating (expense)	(233)	(440)	(425)
Second Quarter Corporate general and administrative expense	(101)	(155)	(205)
Second Quarter Gain on prepayment of debt	0	0	0
Second Quarter Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	0	0	0
Second Quarter Recovery of bad debt	0	386	0
Second Quarter Other income (expense) net	(7)	(24)	(54)
Second Quarter Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(171)	26	(199)
Second Quarter Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	38	84	100
Second Quarter Income (loss) allocable to common shareholders	$ (133)	$ 110	$ (99)
Second Quarter Income (loss) per common share - basic	$ (0.07)	$ 0.06	$ (0.05)
Third Quarter Details
Third Quarter Revenue	$ 190	$ 232	$ 410
Third Quarter Operating (expense)	(295)	(527)	(447)
Third Quarter Corporate general and administrative expense	(52)	(176)	(208)
Third Quarter Gain on prepayment of debt	0	0	0
Third Quarter Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	0	0	0
Third Quarter Recovery of bad debt	0	306	0
Third Quarter Other income (expense) net	(13)	(14)	(40)
Third Quarter Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(170)	(179)	(285)
Third Quarter Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	6	104	81
Third Quarter Income (loss) allocable to common shareholders	$ (164)	$ (75)	$ (204)
Third Quarter Income (loss) per common share - basic	$ (0.08)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.10)
Fourth Quarter Details
Fourth Quarter Revenue	$ 185	$ 157	$ 250
Fourth Quarter Operating (expense)	(327)	(363)	(502)
Fourth Quarter Corporate general and administrative expense	(33)	(120)	(218)
Fourth Quarter Gain on prepayment of debt	888	0	0
Fourth Quarter Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	0	(2,717)	0
Fourth Quarter Recovery of bad debt	0	0	0
Fourth Quarter Gain on sale of land	50	0	0
Fourth Quarter Other income (expense) net	(80)	(10)	3
Fourth Quarter Net income (loss) from continuing operations	738	(3,053)	(463)
Fourth Quarter Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(97)	82	27
Fourth Quarter Income (loss) allocable to common shareholders	$ 641	$ (2,971)	$ (436)
Fourth Quarter Income (loss) per common share - basic	$ 0.31	$ (1.53)	$ (0.23)