Last checked at 
* July WCS last at $14.00/bbl under WTI
* July synthetic last at $4.50/bbl above WTI
CALGARY, Alberta, June 7 (Reuters) - Canadian crude pricesstrengthened on Friday, with heavy oil supported by expectationsof increased refinery demand and light synthetic crude lifted bymarket talk of a production cut.
Western Canada Select heavy blend for July delivery lasttraded at $14.00 per barrel below the West Texas Intermediatebenchmark, according to Shorcan Energy Brokers.
That compares with a settlement price of $14.75 below thebenchmark on Thursday.
Heavy oil has climbed this week on reports Exxon MobilCorp's 238,600 barrel per day refinery in Joliet,Illinois, could return to service this month.
An upgraded crude distillation unit at BP Plc's 405,000 bpd Whiting, Indiana, refinery is also expected to startby the end of June.
Both U.S. refineries process Canadian heavy crude.
Light synthetic crude from the oil sands for July lasttraded at a premium of $4.50 per barrel to WTI, up from asettlement price on Thursday of $4.25 above the benchmark.
One market source said prices had been pushed higher thisweek by a June synthetic crude production cut. A spokeswoman forCanadian Oil Sands Ltd, which owns the largest stake inSyncrude Canada Ltd, declined to comment.
