Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ (40,744,938)		$ 14,635,669	$ 3,531,933
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	18,196,583		18,395,040	18,397,548
Impairment	76,824,337	[1]	0	662,990	[1]
Provision for deferred income taxes	(12,112,000)		(12,963,000)	375,000
Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage	(1,546,298)		(1,520,262)	(5,147,957)
Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage	1,565,649		1,564,225	5,194,290
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	(18,730,197)		660,597	94,889
Common stock contributed to ESOP	372,274		382,174	312,380
Common stock (unissued) to Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan	272,491		301,715	358,658
Fair value of derivative contracts	(5,908,160)		3,930,175	(944,430)
Restricted stock awards	771,797		655,414	597,940
Other	19,085		6,326	(5,783)
Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:
Oil, NGL and natural gas sales receivables	2,723,983		483,856	(2,298,256)
Refundable income taxes	(1,472,277)		456,780	(406,071)
Other current assets	21,116		57,752	165,557
Accounts payable	105,217		(140,600)	(103,389)
Other non-current assets	7,166		(62,295)
Accrued liabilities	639,856		100,328	(27,107)
Total adjustments	61,750,622		12,308,225	17,226,259
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,005,684		26,943,894	20,758,192
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(3,526,007)		(11,590,135)	(25,807,897)
Acquisition of minerals and overrides	(5,662,869)		(11,327,371)
Investments in partnerships	(1,648)		3,354	(23,563)
Proceeds from sales of assets	19,515,735		1,085,137	723,700
Net cash used in investing activities	10,325,211		(21,829,015)	(25,107,760)
Financing Activities
Borrowings under debt agreement	16,642,481		29,017,800	27,809,185
Payments of loan principal	(32,217,481)		(30,239,800)	(20,087,185)
Purchases of treasury stock	(7,454,000)		(1,219,228)	(601,853)
Payments of dividends	(2,673,706)		(2,698,940)	(2,684,001)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(25,702,706)		(5,140,168)	4,436,146
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,628,189		(25,289)	86,578
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	532,502		557,791	471,213
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	6,160,691		532,502	557,791
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest)	2,031,762		1,730,461	1,212,878
Income taxes paid (net of refunds received)	103,279		(232,782)	720,072
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Additions and revisions, net, to asset retirement obligations	27,782		17,216	624,893
Gross additions to properties and equipment	9,248,415		21,711,279	25,406,894
Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties and equipment additions	(59,539)		1,206,227	401,003
Capital expenditures, including dry hole costs	$ 9,188,876		$ 22,917,506	$ 25,807,897

[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.