Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 14,635,669	$ 3,531,933		$ (10,286,884)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	18,395,040	18,397,548		24,487,565
Impairment	0	662,990	[1]	12,001,271	[1]
Provision for deferred income taxes	(12,963,000)	375,000		(9,960,000)
Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage	(1,520,262)	(5,147,957)		(7,732,023)
Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage	1,564,225	5,194,290		8,049,434
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	660,597	94,889		(2,688,408)
Common stock contributed to ESOP	382,174	312,380		200,158
Common stock (unissued) to Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan	301,715	358,658		329,465
Fair value of derivative contracts	3,930,175	(944,430)		4,639,035
Restricted stock awards	655,414	597,940		781,479
Other	6,326	(5,783)		81,606
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil, NGL and natural gas sales receivables	483,856	(2,298,256)		2,589,146
Refundable income taxes	456,780	(406,071)		262,023
Other current assets	57,752	165,557		308,980
Accounts payable	(140,600)	(103,389)		(811,749)
Other non-current assets	(62,295)
Accrued liabilities	100,328	(27,107)		388,053
Total adjustments	12,308,225	17,226,259		32,926,035
Net cash provided by operating activities	26,943,894	20,758,192		22,639,151
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	(11,590,135)	(25,807,897)		(3,986,235)
Acquisition of minerals and overrides	(11,327,371)
Investments in partnerships	3,354	(23,563)		50,126
Proceeds from sales of assets	1,085,137	723,700		4,501,726
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,829,015)	(25,107,760)		565,617
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement	29,017,800	27,809,185		12,339,101
Payments of loan principal	(30,239,800)	(20,087,185)		(32,839,101)
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,219,228)	(601,853)		(117,165)
Payments of dividends	(2,698,940)	(2,684,001)		(2,677,305)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation				(43,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,140,168)	4,436,146		(23,337,470)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(25,289)	86,578		(132,702)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	557,791	471,213		603,915
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	532,502	557,791		471,213
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest)	1,730,461	1,212,878		1,365,474
Income taxes paid (net of refunds received)	(232,782)	720,072		2,029,977
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Additions and revisions, net, to asset retirement obligations	17,216	624,893		14,095
Gross additions to properties and equipment	21,711,279	25,406,894		5,118,733
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	1,206,227	401,003		(1,132,498)
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	$ 22,917,506	$ 25,807,897		$ 3,986,235

[1] At the end of each quarter, the Company assessed the carrying value of its producing properties for impairment. This assessment utilized estimates of future cash flows or fair value (selling price) less cost to sell if the property is held for sale. Significant judgments and assumptions in these assessments include estimates of future oil, NGL and natural gas prices using a forward NYMEX curve adjusted for projected inflation, locational basis differentials, drilling plans, expected capital costs and an applicable discount rate commensurate with risk of the underlying cash flow estimates. These assessments identified certain properties with carrying value in excess of their calculated fair values.