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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:1e12850d-5e06-4694-b746-f044bacc12e7,g:481d8e36-9f65-4ce9-82c9-48b97bb34656-->
<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-20210114.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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" 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_7a551a63-6168-460a-a9d6-57d34e55496c" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_7a551a63-6168-460a-a9d6-57d34e55496c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_46b46733-1cd5-42dc-9b70-09f038d3f1a7" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_46b46733-1cd5-42dc-9b70-09f038d3f1a7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_6818109c-9f07-4958-be4c-fc112d9b1e76" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_6818109c-9f07-4958-be4c-fc112d9b1e76" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_f099ca7d-05b3-4987-b26a-89f909f9dc7f" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_f099ca7d-05b3-4987-b26a-89f909f9dc7f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_001d5284-581f-4847-b6d6-7075b1f709de" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_001d5284-581f-4847-b6d6-7075b1f709de" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_55c8fb9a-0d13-4269-b89f-3c08241b831f" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_55c8fb9a-0d13-4269-b89f-3c08241b831f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_4ee80232-7814-4ef4-b19b-3825d3ba1b8e" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_4ee80232-7814-4ef4-b19b-3825d3ba1b8e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a09843fd-76d1-4af4-9c50-336bbf25625d" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a09843fd-76d1-4af4-9c50-336bbf25625d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2e2dfa70-6d2c-41fe-a978-8976254bd239" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2e2dfa70-6d2c-41fe-a978-8976254bd239" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_4ce910d2-8f22-4de2-955d-860b670ffb0a" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_4ce910d2-8f22-4de2-955d-860b670ffb0a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a90b2f4f-4d75-415f-a87a-492a655e09a5" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a90b2f4f-4d75-415f-a87a-492a655e09a5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_55db8eb2-aa09-4fea-9865-ed06bbf2a87d" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_55db8eb2-aa09-4fea-9865-ed06bbf2a87d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_514243ed-64c5-4adf-901f-439495291e34" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_514243ed-64c5-4adf-901f-439495291e34" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a4bbf0ed-7726-4e70-b79c-737e5c742c6b" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a4bbf0ed-7726-4e70-b79c-737e5c742c6b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_71872e1f-734a-4ce5-afe9-1e8c129bb105" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_71872e1f-734a-4ce5-afe9-1e8c129bb105" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_a854cb8e-c6f0-48ab-a442-8ea3d557509f" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_a854cb8e-c6f0-48ab-a442-8ea3d557509f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_30d4c9df-3dd6-41f5-965c-cd11dbbeb36b" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_30d4c9df-3dd6-41f5-965c-cd11dbbeb36b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_d14975cc-290e-4ca4-b6f2-978068e3915a" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_d14975cc-290e-4ca4-b6f2-978068e3915a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_7ec3f72d-0b96-426d-bc94-769155494ee0" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_7ec3f72d-0b96-426d-bc94-769155494ee0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_9c410b28-98fd-42f2-b560-add28ad74e41" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_9c410b28-98fd-42f2-b560-add28ad74e41" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_346aa11a-d4cf-4f41-8b34-fce45fa032b3" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_346aa11a-d4cf-4f41-8b34-fce45fa032b3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_328f9510-5767-45f9-9eef-22900ab8bade" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_328f9510-5767-45f9-9eef-22900ab8bade" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_85e516d2-153e-46ef-a751-d7b50639af7e" 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_1b3d9fe0-b709-470f-889b-e76299db4d81" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_85e516d2-153e-46ef-a751-d7b50639af7e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
