The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Sept. 3, edition that Canadian Oil Sands is expecting the Syncrude oil sands development north of Fort McMurray, Alta., to return to normal production rates toward the end of the month. A Canadian Press disaptch to The Globe reports that the update follows a fire over the weekend that damaged pipes, power and communication lines between two units of the Mildred Lake upgrader. Synthetic crude oil will be produced at minimal rates for the next two weeks as part of a phased recovery strategy. Synthetic crude is a light, easy-to-refine oil that is made by upgrading oil sands bitumen, explains CP. Canadian Oil Sands is expecting 2015 crude output to come in at the low end of its targeted range of between 96 million and 107 million barrels as a result of the fire, which caused no injuries. Canadian Oil Sands is the biggest partner in the Syncrude mine north of Fort McMurray, with a 37-per-cent interest. Other Syncrude owners include Imperial Oil, Suncor Energy, CNOOC, Sinopec, Murphy Oil and Mocal Energy.