Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ (2,238,392)	$ (2,799,118)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,834,263	6,957,652
Impairment	0	3,733,273
Provision for deferred income taxes	(1,107,000)	(3,747,000)
Exploration costs	(2,243)	27,790
Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage	(837,732)	(2,425,131)
Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage	847,578	2,693,812
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets		(271,080)
Amortization of partnerships	2,541	19,984
Directors' deferred compensation expense	105,818	85,930
Restricted stock awards	180,412	371,407
Bad debt expense (recovery)		19,216
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil, NGL and natural gas sales receivables	(239,558)	2,335,449
Fair value of derivative contracts	2,516,263	3,574,650
Refundable production taxes		1,162
Other current assets	145,640	(659,324)
Accounts payable	(90,474)	(484,882)
Income taxes receivable	(14,166)	345,897
Income taxes payable		1,073,551
Accrued liabilities	(419,299)	(509,208)
Total adjustments	5,922,043	13,143,148
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,683,651	10,344,030
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	(2,174,523)	(1,286,114)
Investments in partnerships	(17,571)	44,842
Proceeds from sales of assets		627,547
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(2,192,094)	(613,725)
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement	4,436,304	2,958,515
Payments of loan principal	(4,836,304)	(10,958,515)
Purchases of treasury stock	(407,677)	(117,165)
Payments of dividends	(670,104)	(668,364)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation		(45,000)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,477,781)	(8,830,529)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	13,776	899,776
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	471,213	603,915
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	484,989	1,503,691
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Dividends declared and unpaid	670,255	669,618
Additions to asset retirement obligations	594	4,524
Gross additions to properties and equipment	3,370,574	3,455,245
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	(1,196,051)	(2,169,131)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions, including dry hole costs	$ 2,174,523	$ 1,286,114