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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2023 Workiva-->
<!--r:395ea374-c2a7-4086-b556-bb1893e2fc17,g:79d0fa92-4c29-48c5-9257-eb0fb8ab1f92-->
<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-20230731.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_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_46a76854-1993-4b3f-98a0-c6b080842fc1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_46a76854-1993-4b3f-98a0-c6b080842fc1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_a29b08be-af9d-4660-95f1-5eeff11ba730" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_a29b08be-af9d-4660-95f1-5eeff11ba730" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_bb1df646-9d44-4cc2-a2e3-eba5c6970c4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_bb1df646-9d44-4cc2-a2e3-eba5c6970c4d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_734b9943-0325-4bdf-b140-160665e61037" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_734b9943-0325-4bdf-b140-160665e61037" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_73aae3dd-f7d6-4924-8089-920931724ca3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_73aae3dd-f7d6-4924-8089-920931724ca3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_a8575c30-20e3-4bc5-821f-e97bf9b528d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_a8575c30-20e3-4bc5-821f-e97bf9b528d0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a0cfe6ba-68bf-431c-9b4c-32b00af6ba95" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a0cfe6ba-68bf-431c-9b4c-32b00af6ba95" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_b6647f53-f5e8-45cd-b652-fa4ea36ebad0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_b6647f53-f5e8-45cd-b652-fa4ea36ebad0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2fbb0c8e-4ec1-4b94-86f9-783cee91919c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2fbb0c8e-4ec1-4b94-86f9-783cee91919c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_cd5fe07b-548f-4a27-b83b-fe8dc6f80566" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_cd5fe07b-548f-4a27-b83b-fe8dc6f80566" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_8514b273-ef16-4842-b527-9ca221c4bc50" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_8514b273-ef16-4842-b527-9ca221c4bc50" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_6c794a24-382f-44a0-89cd-94ba31b9d0f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_6c794a24-382f-44a0-89cd-94ba31b9d0f8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_29588c6d-a874-49c9-b179-244ffd218a98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_29588c6d-a874-49c9-b179-244ffd218a98" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_9ec0deee-fa32-44fd-aa52-5f3062ef7b88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_9ec0deee-fa32-44fd-aa52-5f3062ef7b88" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_1218e139-888b-428c-9259-1f28f9ca2fae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_1218e139-888b-428c-9259-1f28f9ca2fae" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_7b158f94-2366-49c8-824f-98d19584a211" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_7b158f94-2366-49c8-824f-98d19584a211" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_c2845d95-d1bf-457a-b312-97385ec956bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_c2845d95-d1bf-457a-b312-97385ec956bc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ba28ca22-1540-43c0-9b86-2e3062e229ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ba28ca22-1540-43c0-9b86-2e3062e229ff" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_fb158d03-4c0c-46fd-a4a1-4f8b69ec235d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_fb158d03-4c0c-46fd-a4a1-4f8b69ec235d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_7ddc52bd-5602-4bf3-a3a2-21627e91a2cf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_7ddc52bd-5602-4bf3-a3a2-21627e91a2cf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_99cfc23d-e7ce-4e1c-b00c-c91ecdad79a6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_99cfc23d-e7ce-4e1c-b00c-c91ecdad79a6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_d9892b9e-ac0c-499a-98e1-28b014933a2a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_d9892b9e-ac0c-499a-98e1-28b014933a2a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2e047cab-e37e-4c63-b8f2-7bf039603f49" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2e047cab-e37e-4c63-b8f2-7bf039603f49" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_017ec88b-0f3f-4e16-a832-78af70b4d16e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="24" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_58fefd58-ac6e-49dd-a10d-f082cb477137" xlink:to="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_017ec88b-0f3f-4e16-a832-78af70b4d16e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
