CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Oil and gas operations, net of royalties	$ 791	$ 764	$ 820
Total Revenues	791	764	820
Operating expenses
Oil & gas operations	1,027	1,181	1,800
Corporate general and administrative	408	352	605
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties	2,626	0	2,717
Total Operating Expenses	4,061	1,533	5,122
Operating earnings (loss)	(3,270)	(769)	(4,302)
Other income (expense)
Interest income	25	23	12
Interest expense	(24)	(38)	(62)
Gain on prepayment of debt	0	888	0
Gain on sale of land	0	50	0
Bad debt expense (recovery) - note receivable	0	0	1,430
Other income (expense), net	28	(110)	(32)
Total Other income (expense)	29	813	1,348
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(3,241)	44	(2,954)
Earnings from discontinued operations	(5)	4	332
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ (3,246)	$ 48	$ (2,622)
Net income (loss) per common share-basic and diluted	$ (1.59)	$ 0.02	$ (1.35)
Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding - basic	2,037	1,947	1,947