Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Oil and natural gas (and associated natural gas liquids) sales	$ 8,438,709	$ 11,190,482	$ 29,748,884	$ 31,829,991
Lease bonuses and rentals	5,014,238	83,485	6,936,156	225,340
Gains (losses) on derivative contracts	81,164	344,856	449,997	332,183
Income from partnerships	115,581	69,594	355,898	179,910
Total revenues	13,649,692	11,688,417	37,490,935	32,567,424
Costs and expenses:
Lease operating expenses	2,254,543	2,212,181	6,570,942	6,491,630
Production taxes	289,642	268,425	1,071,993	1,035,497
Exploration costs	29,141	418,055	384,199	995,512
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,597,363	3,716,460	13,680,737	10,782,656
Provision for impairment	205,915	2,927	786,724	830,946
Loss (gain) on asset sales, interest and other	93,350	(44,279)	45,846	(63,505)
General and administrative	1,498,439	1,423,219	4,802,119	4,529,157
Total costs and expenses	8,968,393	7,996,988	27,342,560	24,601,893
Income before provision for income taxes	4,681,299	3,691,429	10,148,375	7,965,531
Provision for income taxes	1,581,000	1,041,000	2,960,000	2,116,000
Net income	$ 3,100,299	$ 2,650,429	$ 7,188,375	$ 5,849,531
Basic and diluted earnings per common share (Note 3)	$ 0.37	$ 0.32	$ 0.86	$ 0.70
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding:
Common shares	8,249,954	8,256,252	8,253,079	8,279,784
Unissued, directors' deferred compensation shares	115,087	123,310	133,702	119,943
Total basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	8,365,041	8,379,562	8,386,781	8,399,727
Dividends declared per share of common stock and paid in period	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21