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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2020 Workiva-->
<!--r:b03b661d-b81c-487e-90d2-bcaeec22d98b,g:fd2a8f7f-d36f-4d55-8d4f-78ac4c3129d9-->
<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-20201203.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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" 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_41535d45-f29e-43e9-a8b6-3d6339bcf86d" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_41535d45-f29e-43e9-a8b6-3d6339bcf86d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_df604594-0082-473f-91b4-93819175d97b" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_df604594-0082-473f-91b4-93819175d97b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_8ee4f0b1-b18f-4ca6-9274-0253f680b78e" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_8ee4f0b1-b18f-4ca6-9274-0253f680b78e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7dd12e56-cc88-4113-a792-cd8d0029699f" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7dd12e56-cc88-4113-a792-cd8d0029699f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_cb4a6612-c917-4423-9ac2-cd0cee3678f0" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_cb4a6612-c917-4423-9ac2-cd0cee3678f0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_9ce13bd6-0ccc-4425-a22f-9250d6426847" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_9ce13bd6-0ccc-4425-a22f-9250d6426847" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_081c1179-32fa-4423-aa44-6a849d67ce5b" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_081c1179-32fa-4423-aa44-6a849d67ce5b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_0b0f2507-1e5a-4a9b-beb2-42f9b941e3c4" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_0b0f2507-1e5a-4a9b-beb2-42f9b941e3c4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_1896df0d-2f2d-4a62-9f9d-581922f94b35" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_1896df0d-2f2d-4a62-9f9d-581922f94b35" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_f0896402-de19-4b65-a8ce-543bf7bb59dc" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_f0896402-de19-4b65-a8ce-543bf7bb59dc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a10cba24-461b-4a3d-bf98-277824eb0cf7" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a10cba24-461b-4a3d-bf98-277824eb0cf7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_34ac689d-4321-45ee-9add-ebb54b0df4c7" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_34ac689d-4321-45ee-9add-ebb54b0df4c7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_16d5f1a2-5093-4c96-bf1e-e55148a15f8a" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_16d5f1a2-5093-4c96-bf1e-e55148a15f8a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_961aa17a-52f2-470d-91db-bcfc59ea9b2d" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_961aa17a-52f2-470d-91db-bcfc59ea9b2d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_d0cfe436-2f34-4fea-9603-cf28e7f6b426" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_d0cfe436-2f34-4fea-9603-cf28e7f6b426" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_1b23d97d-6b7c-4e4e-bd67-e11482821df1" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_1b23d97d-6b7c-4e4e-bd67-e11482821df1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_05916a2a-7754-4f5a-8486-63bd5869bc5a" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_05916a2a-7754-4f5a-8486-63bd5869bc5a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_902d01a6-34da-4132-ab61-7c66e14864f3" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_902d01a6-34da-4132-ab61-7c66e14864f3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_f5d2b081-ab07-4428-a3f7-cbc3aed5da26" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_f5d2b081-ab07-4428-a3f7-cbc3aed5da26" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_1d6b3a17-3c84-4c5c-bc87-69a5f83066c3" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_1d6b3a17-3c84-4c5c-bc87-69a5f83066c3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_801c82e7-de1b-4bf9-9864-b528bdb7bb64" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_801c82e7-de1b-4bf9-9864-b528bdb7bb64" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_25f274e5-1265-44d7-a961-2e161fca3d87" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_25f274e5-1265-44d7-a961-2e161fca3d87" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_b816d729-bd6a-4a28-afef-0709fb08c4f7" 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_0c3f71e8-00a3-4d82-91b0-c80c6f376a1b" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_b816d729-bd6a-4a28-afef-0709fb08c4f7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
