ERBIL, Iraq - Iraq's oil ministry has signed a contract with Angolan state-owned oil company Sonangol that will see it drill 10 wells in the Qayara oilfield near Mosul in northern Iraq, the ministry said on Thursday.

The agreement was signed between Sonangol and the Iraqi Drilling Company, which is run by the ministry.

The Qayara oilfield is currently producing 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) and output is expected to reach 60,000 bpd by next March, the ministry quoted Sonangol general manager Ramesh Valory as saying.

Sonangol plans to drill more wells over the next two years, bringing the total of wells to 100, he added.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; editing by Jason Neely) ((ahmed.aboulenein@tr.com; +964 790 191 7021; Reuters Messaging: ahmed.aboulenein.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))