Condensed Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas (and associated natural gas liquids) sales	$ 9,565,898	$ 10,907,935	$ 21,310,175	$ 20,639,509
Lease bonuses and rentals	166,727	28,490	1,921,918	141,855
Gains (losses) on derivative contracts	590,912	8,766	368,833	(12,673)
Income from partnerships	113,373	32,268	240,317	110,316
Total revenues	10,436,910	10,977,459	23,841,243	20,879,007
Costs and expenses:
Lease operating expenses	2,051,487	2,081,579	4,316,399	4,279,449
Production taxes	343,852	422,428	782,351	767,072
Exploration costs	41,688	290,353	355,058	577,457
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,940,961	3,631,385	9,083,374	7,066,196
Provision for impairment	217,262	828,019	580,809	828,019
Loss (gain) on asset sales, interest and other	29,537	(13,499)	(47,504)	(19,226)
General and administrative	1,606,157	1,465,941	3,303,680	3,105,938
Total costs and expenses	9,230,944	8,706,206	18,374,167	16,604,905
Income before provision for income taxes	1,205,966	2,271,253	5,467,076	4,274,102
Provision for income taxes	530,000	499,000	1,379,000	1,075,000
Net income	$ 675,966	$ 1,772,253	$ 4,088,076	$ 3,199,102
Basic and diluted earnings per common share (Note 3)	$ 0.08	$ 0.21	$ 0.49	$ 0.38
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding:
Common shares	8,249,954	8,281,059	8,253,079	8,291,549
Unissued, directors' deferred compensation shares	133,851	119,943	133,387	119,652
Total basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	8,383,805	8,401,002	8,386,466	8,411,201
Dividends declared per share of common stock and paid in period	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.14	$ 0.14