Lost profit reduction process and system

A method for detecting a hydrocarbon production trend, said method comprising:

• (a) acquiring well volume data corresponding to a plurality of hydrocarbon-producing wells;
• (b) comparing said acquired well volume data with target well volume data;
• (c) assigning a loss production code to at least one of said hydrocarbon-producing wells based on said comparison;
• and
• (d) detecting a hydrocarbon production trend utilizing said assigned loss production code.

A system for detecting a hydrocarbon production trend, said system comprising:

• a plurality of measurement devices positioned in a hydrocarbon gathering network, said measurement devices operable to acquire well volume data corresponding to a plurality of hydrocarbon-producing wells;
• and
• a computing device coupled with at least one of said measurement devices, said computing device operable to—
• acquire said well volume data from at least one of said measurement devices,
• compare said acquired well volume data for each of said hydrocarbon-producing wells with target well volume data for each of said hydrocarbon-producing wells,
• provide an indication of said comparisons to a user, and
• receive a loss production code from said user in response to at least one of said comparisons and assign said received loss production code to at least one of said hydrocarbon-producing wells.