SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Depreciation associated with abandonments	$ 43,600	$ 23,000	$ 9,100
Number of idle conventional rigs decommissioned | item	23	9
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 39,242
RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	32,000	$ 30,200
Restricted cash and cash equivalents from initial capitalization of captive company	2,000
Additional cash and cash equivalents restricted at the election of management for potential insurance claims	30,000
Prepaid expenses and other	29,998	28,244
Other assets	2,000	2,000
CAPITALIZATION OF INTEREST
Capitalized interest	7,000	7,700	8,800
DRILLING REVENUES
Reimbursements received	302,200	328,900	332,500
RENT REVENUES
Minimum rents	9,608	9,400	9,009
Overage and percentage rents	1,030	1,090	$ 1,384
Fiscal Year
2016	7,395
2017	6,116
2018	4,440
2019	3,238
2020	2,391
Thereafter	3,985
Total	27,565
Cost and accumulated depreciation for real estate properties
Real estate properties	65,466	64,812
Accumulated depreciation	(43,326)	(42,754)
Real estate properties, Net	$ 22,140	$ 22,058
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
Land Rigs | International Land
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Number of impaired land rigs | item	7
Land Rigs | International Land | Discounted cash flow
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Fair value of land rigs	$ 20,600
Other assets | Minimum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Other assets | Maximum
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Estimated useful lives	23 years