RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of components of net periodic benefit cost

The following table details the components of net periodic benefit cost for Barnwell’s retirement plans:

	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Medical
	Three months ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015		2014
Service cost	$	65,000		$	51,000		$	16,000		$	15,000		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	91,000			87,000			20,000			18,000			14,000		13,000
Expected return on plan assets	(112,000		)	(125,000		)	—			—			—		—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	1,000			1,000			(1,000		)	(1,000		)	—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	34,000			21,000			5,000			6,000			—		(1,000		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	79,000		$	35,000		$	40,000		$	38,000		$	14,000	$	12,000