CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas	$ 24,610,000	$ 28,804,000
Contract drilling	2,340,000	3,855,000
Sale of interest in leasehold land, net	482,000	1,245,000
Sale of development rights, net		2,497,000
Residential real estate	5,975,000
Gas processing and other	655,000	2,059,000
Total revenues	34,062,000	38,460,000
Costs and expenses:
Oil and natural gas operating	10,445,000	11,404,000
Contract drilling operating	2,991,000	3,882,000
Residential real estate	5,990,000
General and administrative	8,268,000	9,025,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	10,990,000	10,127,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets	6,647,000	1,228,000
Interest expense	790,000	1,088,000
Total costs and expenses	46,121,000	36,754,000
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(12,059,000)	1,706,000
Income tax (benefit) provision	(1,097,000)	1,501,000
Net (loss) earnings	(10,962,000)	205,000
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to non-controlling interests	(826,000)	314,000
Net loss attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.	$ (10,136,000)	$ (109,000)
Basic net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.22)	$ (0.01)
Diluted net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.22)	$ (0.01)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160
Diluted (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160