CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas	$ 5,605,000	$ 6,408,000	$ 11,245,000	$ 14,197,000
Contract drilling	703,000	281,000	1,420,000	706,000
Sale of interest in leasehold land, net	282,000	353,000	282,000	353,000
Gas processing and other	179,000	124,000	373,000	412,000
Total revenues	6,769,000	7,166,000	13,320,000	15,668,000
Costs and expenses:
Oil and natural gas operating	3,049,000	2,792,000	5,042,000	5,533,000
Contract drilling operating	653,000	460,000	1,261,000	1,097,000
General and administrative	2,107,000	2,367,000	4,249,000	4,213,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,332,000	2,806,000	5,011,000	5,715,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets	2,179,000	1,854,000	4,506,000	1,854,000
Interest expense	144,000	219,000	296,000	438,000
Total costs and expenses	10,464,000	10,498,000	20,365,000	18,850,000
Loss before income taxes	(3,695,000)	(3,332,000)	(7,045,000)	(3,182,000)
Income tax (benefit) provision	(772,000)	(3,000)	(1,336,000)	487,000
Net loss	(2,923,000)	(3,329,000)	(5,709,000)	(3,669,000)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	21,000	(348,000)	(19,000)	(406,000)
Net loss attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.	$ (2,944,000)	$ (2,981,000)	$ (5,690,000)	$ (3,263,000)
Basic net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.69)	$ (0.39)
Diluted net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.69)	$ (0.39)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160	8,277,160	8,277,160
Diluted (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160	8,277,160	8,277,160