Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 2,492,799	$ (11,024,074)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	13,654,268	18,963,017
Impairment	10,788	11,849,064
Provision for deferred income taxes	149,000	(10,344,000)
Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage	(3,999,632)	(7,187,377)
Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage	4,026,283	7,494,570
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	87,161	(271,080)
Directors' deferred compensation expense	266,182	247,835
Restricted stock awards	454,854	644,783
Other	2,897	73,527
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil, NGL and natural gas sales receivables	(564,767)	3,472,291
Fair value of derivative contracts	(1,879,668)	5,901,280
Refundable production taxes		476,001
Other current assets	196,362	69,237
Accounts payable	(127,375)	(698,593)
Income taxes receivable	(488,112)	345,897
Income taxes payable		659,319
Accrued liabilities	40,197	(118,403)
Total adjustments	11,828,438	31,577,368
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,321,237	20,553,294
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	(18,011,721)	(3,359,518)
Investments in partnerships	(18,531)	50,126
Proceeds from sales of assets	718,700	627,547
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(17,311,552)	(2,681,845)
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement	16,702,602	8,560,234
Payments of loan principal	(11,202,602)	(24,360,234)
Purchases of treasury stock	(407,677)	(117,165)
Payments of dividends	(2,012,329)	(2,007,658)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation		(44,000)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	3,079,994	(17,968,823)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	89,679	(97,374)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	471,213	603,915
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	560,892	506,541
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Additions to asset retirement obligations	60,276	8,156
Gross additions to properties and equipment	19,579,304	3,529,104
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	(1,567,583)	(169,586)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions, including dry hole costs	$ 18,011,721	$ 3,359,518