Surface communication through a well tool enclosure

Abstract

A well tool assembly residing outside of a well includes a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component. A transmitter in a housing assembly of the well tool assembly is used to generate a transmission penetrating a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 with a well tool assembly residing outside of a well, the well tool assembly comprising a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component,   transmitting, using a transmitter in an external housing assembly of the well tool assembly, a status communication penetrating a wall of the external housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly, the status communication regarding a status of the measurement component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where transmitting the status communication comprises transmitting a status communication after the measurement component is coupled to the power source component, the status communication regarding status of the power source to measurement component coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising transmitting a second communication penetrating the wall of the external housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly, the second communication regarding contents of a memory in the housing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where transmitting the status communication penetrating the wall of the external housing assembly comprises generating a transmission representing the communication using the measurement component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , where generating the transmission representing the communication using the measurement component comprises generating a transmission representing the communication using at least one of an electromagnetic transmitter of a fluid resistivity measurement device or an acoustic transmitter of a pipe or cement evaluation device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , where transmitting the status communication through the wall of the external housing assembly comprises transmitting an acoustic, electromagnetic, or thermal communication signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where transmitting the status communication through the wall of the external housing assembly comprises transmitting a tactile communication signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving the communication at a receiver outside of the well; and   displaying information in a visual form based on the communication.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving at a receiver within the exterior housing assembly of the well tool a transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly having penetrated the wall of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising generating the transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly using an external transmitter unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising generating the transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly by tapping on the wall of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A well tool assembly, comprising:
 a power source;   a measurement component coupled to the power source;   a sealed housing assembly enclosing the power source and the measurement component; and   an at-surface transmitter in the housing assembly that produces, while the well tool assembly is outside of a well, a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The well tool assembly of  claim 12 , comprising a receiver in the housing assembly, the receiver tuned to receive a transmission generated by tapping on the housing assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The well tool assembly of  claim 12 , where the transmitter is coupled to the measurement component to use an aspect of the measurement component in generating the transmission. 
     
     
         15 . The well tool assembly of  claim 12 , where the transmitter generates a transmission in the form of tapping on the sealed housing or a thermal signal. 
     
     
         16 . The well tool assembly of  claim 12 , where well tool assembly is a wire conveyed well tool assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a well tool assembly comprising one or more measurement components in a housing assembly; and   a transmitter in the housing assembly coupled to the measurement components, the transmitter being of a type that produces a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , comprising a receiver in the housing assembly tuned to receive a transmission from exterior the housing assembly that penetrates the housing assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , where the transmitter is coupled to a measurement component to use the component in generating the transmission.