CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Oil and natural gas	$ 21,376,000	$ 24,610,000
Contract drilling	2,338,000	2,340,000
Sale of interest in leasehold land, net	282,000	482,000
Residential real estate		5,975,000
Gas processing and other	612,000	655,000
Total revenues	24,608,000	34,062,000
Costs and expenses:
Oil and natural gas operating	9,992,000	10,445,000
Contract drilling operating	2,239,000	2,991,000
Residential real estate		5,990,000
General and administrative	8,911,000	8,268,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	8,542,000	10,990,000
Reduction of carrying value of assets	4,506,000	6,647,000
Interest expense	587,000	790,000
Total costs and expenses	34,777,000	46,121,000
Loss before income taxes	(10,169,000)	(12,059,000)
Income tax benefit	(1,497,000)	(1,097,000)
Net loss	(8,672,000)	(10,962,000)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(109,000)	(826,000)
Net loss attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders	$ (8,563,000)	$ (10,136,000)
Basic net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.03)	$ (1.22)
Diluted net loss per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.03)	$ (1.22)
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