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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2023 Workiva-->
<!--r:b51c252a-dc57-4b40-bb5b-23f2a17885bf,g:4c0638d9-cd7a-43c4-aade-620384257804-->
<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-20230428.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_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_9341464b-786f-4451-bf3a-75bb570e8211" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_9341464b-786f-4451-bf3a-75bb570e8211" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_334ec58c-50c7-4c46-aebf-309251bba0cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_334ec58c-50c7-4c46-aebf-309251bba0cd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_c7284cd3-6344-4f25-974f-918911dc7fc8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_c7284cd3-6344-4f25-974f-918911dc7fc8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_dce7be04-f547-4005-89fe-177f933d1eb6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_dce7be04-f547-4005-89fe-177f933d1eb6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_d4382524-e49b-41f3-8739-cff5c008129f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_d4382524-e49b-41f3-8739-cff5c008129f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5a565cbf-939d-4632-8746-d007862681fb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5a565cbf-939d-4632-8746-d007862681fb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_bf34f214-347c-4c4a-a684-49d8f5298a02" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_bf34f214-347c-4c4a-a684-49d8f5298a02" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_35bcad69-83e8-46c3-8ebb-9fb3d4896fa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_35bcad69-83e8-46c3-8ebb-9fb3d4896fa9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_b169aa75-bae2-47cd-8e64-ad46b5ecde92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_b169aa75-bae2-47cd-8e64-ad46b5ecde92" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_a26fa299-40c9-4b63-b707-58272fd17411" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_a26fa299-40c9-4b63-b707-58272fd17411" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_c7449ff9-e4b0-4ee0-9f4f-e6c9e3fa748e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_c7449ff9-e4b0-4ee0-9f4f-e6c9e3fa748e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_2323194a-5d33-4892-994b-54964f787749" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_2323194a-5d33-4892-994b-54964f787749" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5e2697dd-fbb3-4c16-9add-3071e28bc315" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5e2697dd-fbb3-4c16-9add-3071e28bc315" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_708eb910-72ff-4f63-bb8c-95b73d36c604" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_708eb910-72ff-4f63-bb8c-95b73d36c604" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_93edbecb-c1ef-4a22-8ef7-a306fc1bea90" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_93edbecb-c1ef-4a22-8ef7-a306fc1bea90" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_c095349c-07c9-4fff-93d1-14919190f632" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_c095349c-07c9-4fff-93d1-14919190f632" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_dae183e2-f4d2-4713-920a-ce8315f40ba7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_dae183e2-f4d2-4713-920a-ce8315f40ba7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9f39b933-06f6-438d-a099-a1de70eea4d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9f39b933-06f6-438d-a099-a1de70eea4d0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_837c9be2-3722-4351-b37d-14bfea0d69e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_837c9be2-3722-4351-b37d-14bfea0d69e3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_64c06769-8e99-4d60-b95c-e8f5ba24b023" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_64c06769-8e99-4d60-b95c-e8f5ba24b023" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_8b8a29dd-04c7-41eb-84ed-e195a4db9210" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_8b8a29dd-04c7-41eb-84ed-e195a4db9210" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2ab01cd3-11a4-4c07-87e7-52653f0cb652" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2ab01cd3-11a4-4c07-87e7-52653f0cb652" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_6584fdad-3f4b-46d6-ae54-8bf7b5169293" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_6584fdad-3f4b-46d6-ae54-8bf7b5169293" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_9cfe16ce-5c69-4eb8-9993-f9f4e5a0ebfd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="24" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f7139999-4c11-4202-b030-589e1926dd25" xlink:to="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_9cfe16ce-5c69-4eb8-9993-f9f4e5a0ebfd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
