SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Foreign currency remeasurement and transaction gains (losses)	$ 700,000	$ 300,000	$ 1,200,000
RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	25,700,000	31,000,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents from initial capitalization of captive company	2,000,000
Additional cash and cash equivalents restricted at the election of management for potential insurance claims	23,700,000
Prepaid expenses and other	23,691,000	28,989,000
Other assets	2,000,000	2,000,000
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Depreciation associated with abandonments	9,100,000	16,400,000	4,900,000
CAPITALIZATION OF INTEREST
Capitalized interest	8,800,000	12,900,000	8,200,000
DRILLING REVENUES
Reimbursements received	332,500,000	329,700,000	251,000,000
RENT REVENUES
Minimum rents	9,009,000	8,757,000	8,941,000
Overage and percentage rents	1,384,000	1,485,000	1,135,000
Fiscal Year
2014	7,837,000
2015	6,479,000
2016	4,892,000
2017	3,999,000
2018	2,650,000
Thereafter	5,790,000
Total	31,647,000
Cost and accumulated depreciation for real estate properties
Real estate properties	63,542,000	62,177,000
Accumulated depreciation	(41,847,000)	(40,882,000)
Real estate properties, Net	$ 21,695,000	$ 21,295,000
Minimum
RENT REVENUES
Lease term	3 years
Maximum
RENT REVENUES
Lease term	10 years
Contract drilling equipment | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	4 years
Contract drilling equipment | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	15 years
Real estate buildings and equipment | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Real estate buildings and equipment | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	45 years
Other | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Other | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	23 years