RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

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 March 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016		2015
Service cost	$	65,000		$	77,000		$	16,000		$	16,000		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	91,000			91,000			20,000			20,000			14,000		13,000
Expected return on plan assets	(112,000		)	(125,000		)	—			—			—		—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	1,000			2,000			(1,000		)	(1,000		)	—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	34,000			22,000			4,000			6,000			—		(2,000		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	79,000		$	67,000		$	39,000		$	41,000		$	14,000	$	11,000

	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Medical
	Six months ended March 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016		2015
Service cost	$	130,000		$	128,000		$	32,000		$	31,000		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	182,000			178,000			40,000			38,000			28,000		26,000
Expected return on plan assets	(224,000		)	(250,000		)	—			—			—		—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	2,000			3,000			(2,000		)	(2,000		)	—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	68,000			43,000			9,000			12,000			—		(3,000		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	158,000		$	102,000		$	79,000		$	79,000		$	28,000	$	23,000