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Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves [Abstract]  
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
NOTE 7: Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
     Management considers the estimation of the Company’s crude oil and natural gas reserves to be the most significant of its judgments and estimates. Changes in crude oil and natural gas reserve estimates affect the Company’s calculation of DD&A, provision for abandonment and assessment of the need for asset impairments. On an annual basis, with a semi-annual update, the Company’s Independent Consulting Petroleum Engineer, with assistance from Company staff, prepares estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves based on available geologic and seismic data, reservoir pressure data, core analysis reports, well logs, analogous reservoir performance history, production data and other available sources of engineering, geological and geophysical information. Between periods in which reserves would normally be calculated, the Company updates the reserve calculations utilizing prices current with the period. As of September 30, 2010, the Company adopted the SEC Rule, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting Requirements. Accordingly, the estimated oil and natural gas reserves at June 30, 2011, were computed using the 12-month average price calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas price for each month within the 12-month period prior to June 30, 2011, held flat over the life of the properties. In accordance with SEC rules effective on June 30, 2010, current pricing of oil and natural gas on June 30, 2010, held flat over the life of the properties was used to estimate oil and natural gas reserves as of June 30, 2010. Crude oil and natural gas prices are volatile and largely affected by worldwide production and consumption and are outside the control of management. However, projected future crude oil and natural gas pricing assumptions are used by management to prepare estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves and future net cash flows used in asset impairment assessments and in formulating management’s overall operating decisions.