Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ (2,799,118)	$ 10,233,761
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	6,957,652	6,139,019
Impairment	3,733,273	2,191,997
Provision for deferred income taxes	(3,747,000)	1,184,000
Exploration costs	27,790	25,352
Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage	(2,425,131)	(29,162)
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	(271,080)
Income from partnerships	(16,269)	(199,914)
Distributions received from partnerships	36,253	256,017
Directors' deferred compensation expense	85,930	101,589
Restricted stock awards	371,407	165,111
Bad debt expense (recovery)	19,216
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil, NGL and natural gas sales receivables	2,335,449	2,672,119
Fair value of derivative contracts	3,574,650	(10,431,194)
Refundable production taxes	1,162	13,205
Other current assets	(659,324)	99,085
Accounts payable	(484,882)	565,409
Income taxes receivable	345,897
Income taxes payable	1,073,551	2,891,600
Accrued liabilities	(509,208)	(692,505)
Total adjustments	10,449,336	4,951,728
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,650,218	15,185,489
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	(1,286,114)	(14,901,631)
Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage	2,693,812	29,798
Investments in partnerships	44,842	(173,103)
Proceeds from sales of assets	627,547
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,080,087	(15,044,936)
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement	2,958,515	12,335,774
Payments of loan principal	(10,958,515)	(11,620,667)
Purchases of treasury stock	(117,165)	(120,611)
Payments of dividends	(668,364)	(666,199)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation	(45,000)	(59,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(8,830,529)	(130,703)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	899,776	9,850
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	603,915	509,755
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,503,691	519,605
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Dividends declared and unpaid	669,618	666,824
Additions to asset retirement obligations	4,524	26,452
Gross additions to properties and equipment	3,455,245	13,469,206
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	(2,169,131)	1,432,425
Capital expenditures and acquisitions, including dry hole costs	$ 1,286,114	$ 14,901,631