SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Barnwell Industries, Inc. and all majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “Barnwell,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company”), including a 77.6%-owned land investment general partnership (Kaupulehu Developments), a 75%-owned land investment partnership (KD Kona 2013 LLLP), and a variable interest entity (Teton Barnwell Fund I, LLC) for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

    Undivided interests in oil and natural gas exploration and production joint ventures are consolidated on a proportionate basis. Barnwell’s investments in both unconsolidated entities in which a significant, but less than controlling, interest is held and in variable interest entities in which the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary are accounted for by the equity method.

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars” in this Form 10-Q are to U.S. dollars.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared by Barnwell in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Barnwell’s September 30, 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by our Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 1. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020 has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position at June 30, 2021, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), and equity (deficit) for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and cash flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, have been made. The results of operations for the period ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management of Barnwell to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Significant assumptions are required in the

valuation of deferred tax assets, asset retirement obligations, share-based payment arrangements, obligations for retirement plans, contract drilling estimated costs to complete, proved oil and natural gas reserves, and the carrying value of other assets, and such assumptions may impact the amount at which such items are recorded.

Significant Accounting Policies

Other than as set forth below, there have been no changes to Barnwell's significant accounting policies as described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by our Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 1.

Share-based Compensation

Share-based compensation cost is measured at fair value. Barnwell utilizes a closed-form valuation model to determine the fair value of each option award. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of Barnwell’s stock over a period consistent with that of the expected terms of the options. The expected terms of the options represent expectations of future employee exercise and are estimated based on factors such as vesting periods, contractual expiration dates, historical trends in Barnwell’s stock price, and historical exercise behavior. If the Company does not have sufficient historical data regarding employee exercise behavior, the “simplified method” as permitted by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110, Share-Based Payment is utilized to estimate the expected terms of the options. The risk-free rates for periods within the contractual life of the options are based on the yields of U.S. Treasury instruments with terms comparable to the estimated option terms. Expected dividends are based on current and historical dividend payments. The Company's policy is to recognize forfeitures as they occur.

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company will incur certain incremental costs directly associated with its at-the-market offering program (“ATM”) in which the Company can sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock (see Note 15). These costs typically include fees paid to underwriters, attorneys, accountants, and other third parties. The offering costs incurred by the Company are currently capitalized as current assets and are recorded as “Deferred offering costs” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Deferred costs associated with the ATM offering will be amortized to additional paid-in capital on a pro-rata basis as the Company raises funds under the ATM offering, based on the total estimated proceeds necessary for the ATM offering to be deemed successful with any remaining deferred offering costs charged to the results of operations at the end of the life of the related registration statement.

Variable Interest Entities

The consolidation of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) is required when an enterprise has a controlling financial interest and is therefore the VIE’s primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The determination of whether an entity is a VIE and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, may require significant judgment.

Barnwell analyzes its entities in which it has a variable interest to determine whether the entities are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. This analysis includes a qualitative review based on an evaluation of the design of the entity, its organizational structure, including decision making ability and financial agreements, as well as a quantitative review. Entities that have been determined to be VIEs and for which we have a controlling financial interest and are therefore the VIE’s primary beneficiary are consolidated (see Note 5). Entities that have been determined to be VIEs and for which we do not have a controlling financial interest and are therefore not the VIE’s primary beneficiary are not consolidated. These unconsolidated entities are accounted for under the equity method (see Note 4).

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which provides changes to certain fair value disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the provisions of this Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) effective October 1, 2020. The adoption of this update did not have an impact on Barnwell's consolidated financial statements.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-17, “Consolidation: Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities,” which modifies the guidance related to indirect interests held through related parties under common control for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interest. The Company adopted the provisions of this ASU effective October 1, 2020. The adoption of this update did not have an impact on Barnwell's consolidated financial statements.