A well tool includes a housing, an electronic controller, and a drag assembly. The electronic controller is at least partially enclosed within the housing and adapted to determine a status of a downhole wellbore operation. The drag assembly is coupled to the electronic controller and, based on the determination of the electronic controller, adapted to engage with a downhole tubular to generate a drag force on the well tool during movement of the well tool through the tubular. The electronic controller is operable to selectively control the drag assembly to engage with the downhole tubular to generate a plurality of unique drag forces based on a status of the wellbore operation. The plurality of unique drag forces are generated in a substantially repeating pattern.