RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

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,
	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014
Service cost	$	77,000		$	59,000		$	16,000		$	11,000		$	—		$	3,000
Interest cost	91,000			84,000			20,000			17,000			13,000			14,000
Expected return on plan assets	(125,000		)	(105,000		)	—			—			—			—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	2,000			2,000			(1,000		)	(2,000		)	—			3,000
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	22,000			9,000			6,000			1,000			(2,000		)	(5,000		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	67,000		$	49,000		$	41,000		$	27,000		$	11,000		$	15,000

	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Medical
	Six months ended March 31,
	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014
Service cost	$	128,000		$	118,000		$	31,000		$	23,000		$	—		$	6,000
Interest cost	178,000			169,000			38,000			33,000			26,000			27,000
Expected return on plan assets	(250,000		)	(210,000		)	—			—			—			—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	3,000			3,000			(2,000		)	(3,000		)	—			6,000
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	43,000			18,000			12,000			2,000			(3,000		)	(10,000		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	102,000		$	98,000		$	79,000		$	55,000		$	23,000		$	29,000