<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:ec92ff2b-5ba5-4bb6-800f-3ccf552ea62a,g:5fdf3a2a-3d35-4939-a1ae-413836129571-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.oxy.com/role/CoverPageDocument" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="crc-20210118.xsd#CoverPageDocument"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.oxy.com/role/CoverPageDocument" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_41353510-cc98-4baf-8fde-e98baa8b5ebd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_41353510-cc98-4baf-8fde-e98baa8b5ebd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_feb8ca41-8932-4d4d-83b4-9ca0599c194f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_feb8ca41-8932-4d4d-83b4-9ca0599c194f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_e56ccd97-0d04-49ef-b949-ebb1af5b1931" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_e56ccd97-0d04-49ef-b949-ebb1af5b1931" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_167d035f-79b7-461a-8714-2231b46775c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_167d035f-79b7-461a-8714-2231b46775c3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_bc84b80c-7590-4048-8798-cd712fa47ae4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_bc84b80c-7590-4048-8798-cd712fa47ae4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5370eba1-fd32-4dfa-aa8b-bbae51ee337e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5370eba1-fd32-4dfa-aa8b-bbae51ee337e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b66dc31c-1b0b-4880-97e7-2e53cff53c45" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b66dc31c-1b0b-4880-97e7-2e53cff53c45" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a9390ea6-cc88-414b-8274-8ffc0aa54442" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a9390ea6-cc88-414b-8274-8ffc0aa54442" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_3c915342-e483-4241-87d2-fd1e1cb218df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_3c915342-e483-4241-87d2-fd1e1cb218df" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_14760240-c15f-4465-8849-dd15ee81b274" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_14760240-c15f-4465-8849-dd15ee81b274" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_4e16478c-576d-43a3-babb-e60afa364a73" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_4e16478c-576d-43a3-babb-e60afa364a73" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_1323dca7-87ac-4cad-9828-e255e701a34c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_1323dca7-87ac-4cad-9828-e255e701a34c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1b176973-8d58-4396-ab75-2b5061fcd79e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1b176973-8d58-4396-ab75-2b5061fcd79e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_ac3be681-118d-437e-a0fd-ab6c98f2a5ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_ac3be681-118d-437e-a0fd-ab6c98f2a5ff" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_9939362b-efbb-4b7e-9b61-607a5a658b68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_9939362b-efbb-4b7e-9b61-607a5a658b68" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_e87f8c2e-bbe2-4d64-bd4b-ef0935210b01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_e87f8c2e-bbe2-4d64-bd4b-ef0935210b01" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_14e15c04-db84-4474-a50e-20b0de1ec992" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_14e15c04-db84-4474-a50e-20b0de1ec992" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_2c222297-8dbd-4f44-9f05-048aca16e8a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_2c222297-8dbd-4f44-9f05-048aca16e8a1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_ef71e053-129c-4f69-9eff-4518c0c95e27" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_ef71e053-129c-4f69-9eff-4518c0c95e27" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_570bde70-dedc-4041-9441-8085c11ec31d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_570bde70-dedc-4041-9441-8085c11ec31d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b974c0fb-5ae5-4730-bd15-0ab6a4a60cca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b974c0fb-5ae5-4730-bd15-0ab6a4a60cca" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_569aad4a-e034-47d0-a6b4-78ad6a8b3a1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_569aad4a-e034-47d0-a6b4-78ad6a8b3a1c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2bd492fc-6018-41e8-b516-bb1bf14517fc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_d16ab6a0-5dee-4cd1-8526-86cf8eaf0086" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2bd492fc-6018-41e8-b516-bb1bf14517fc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
