Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 8,493,912	$ 11,419,690	$ (2,405,021)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	14,712,188	19,222,123	28,168,933
Impairment	1,728,162	605,615	2,464,520
Provision for deferred income taxes	1,878,000	777,000	(3,814,000)
Exploration costs	1,025,542	1,208,653	711,582
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	(350,530)	(1,189,605)	(2,654,759)
Income from partnerships	(420,465)	(405,134)	(323,848)
Distributions received from partnerships	553,382	523,317	432,805
Other		64,555	4,708
Common stock contributed to ESOP	303,843	287,194	245,811
Common stock (unissued) to Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan	443,456	359,628	256,688
Restricted stock awards	152,482	12,028
Bad debt expense (recovery)			(185,272)
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil and natural gas sales receivables	251,598	(1,315,445)	9,620,843
Fair value of derivative contracts	1,404,386	(4,133,761)	3,159,628
Refundable income taxes	(354,246)		2,162,305
Refundable production taxes	(124,621)	(69,874)	(921,769)
Other current assets	317,370	(343,961)	74,455
Accounts payable	72,119	(24,896)	287,883
Income taxes payable	(922,136)	583,625	338,511
Accrued liabilities	119,487	225,723	86,603
Total adjustments	20,790,017	16,386,785	40,115,627
Net cash provided by operating activities	29,283,929	27,806,475	37,710,606
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	(27,545,348)	(11,308,506)	(39,915,051)
Proceeds from leasing of fee mineral acreage	389,807	1,316,377	209,930
Investments in partnerships	(46,213)	(254,555)	(59,742)
Proceeds from sales of assets	938	401,168	3,441,871
Net cash used in investing activities	(27,200,816)	(9,845,516)	(36,322,992)
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement		10,799,814	49,027,225
Payments of loan principal		(21,184,536)	(48,346,603)
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,851,290)	(291,383)
Payments of dividends	(2,322,082)	(2,327,504)	(2,324,036)
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,173,372)	(13,003,609)	(1,643,414)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,090,259)	4,957,350	(255,800)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	5,597,258	639,908	895,708
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,506,999	5,597,258	639,908
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest)		60,912
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	2,584,172	3,530,718	(1,261,808)
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Additions and revisions, net, to asset retirement obligations	113,506	110,144	95,076
Gross additions to properties and equipment	27,310,016	11,585,521	28,540,290
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	235,332	(277,015)	11,374,761
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	$ 27,545,348	$ 11,308,506	$ 39,915,051