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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:a58b23f2-ea38-4a67-9e3e-156a8d659b3f,g:660ec95d-60ee-4573-bcd6-20baca24c794-->
<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-20220211.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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_e46cfede-4d8b-40be-8b7d-1ff3a447fcd5" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_e46cfede-4d8b-40be-8b7d-1ff3a447fcd5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_094c6add-1ae2-4a06-bb16-be58a2b4551a" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_094c6add-1ae2-4a06-bb16-be58a2b4551a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_76d1cc9b-9cfb-43af-8766-9afb977aa195" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_76d1cc9b-9cfb-43af-8766-9afb977aa195" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_724f17b0-48a9-4058-ae52-96d2364d1fee" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_724f17b0-48a9-4058-ae52-96d2364d1fee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_b4a5c9d8-395b-4d78-bb8c-294efc443df1" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_b4a5c9d8-395b-4d78-bb8c-294efc443df1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_56cc1b20-6a2b-4578-83df-25119cb1eab4" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_56cc1b20-6a2b-4578-83df-25119cb1eab4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_021b506f-969c-4876-b45a-ac67fda23ddc" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_021b506f-969c-4876-b45a-ac67fda23ddc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_e0863e0d-8c26-4eef-b9f1-2cce573b6175" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_e0863e0d-8c26-4eef-b9f1-2cce573b6175" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_b21cb1c9-af13-42ad-b29c-775af5df1578" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_b21cb1c9-af13-42ad-b29c-775af5df1578" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_6abe62a9-1d57-4343-acc3-61be1c210fa0" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_6abe62a9-1d57-4343-acc3-61be1c210fa0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_e5505f2b-c203-44f3-96b7-11d6a1815297" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_e5505f2b-c203-44f3-96b7-11d6a1815297" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_5aa1a0d0-93d3-4b3d-a1e5-f9afb6d7fc82" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_5aa1a0d0-93d3-4b3d-a1e5-f9afb6d7fc82" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5d503b6a-bdf8-4570-9790-f6ff6f32c003" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5d503b6a-bdf8-4570-9790-f6ff6f32c003" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_7138c890-57a8-4220-95b1-f553925ee1e6" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_7138c890-57a8-4220-95b1-f553925ee1e6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_ce672a6a-6393-4d09-8562-a5bad0f06955" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_ce672a6a-6393-4d09-8562-a5bad0f06955" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_af0a9d0b-bc07-4412-8266-1dc189a3953f" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_af0a9d0b-bc07-4412-8266-1dc189a3953f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_ec8727b0-786a-4337-9fbb-02e48fdd0ec5" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_ec8727b0-786a-4337-9fbb-02e48fdd0ec5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ea124b1c-174d-4387-b404-cbb2247b365f" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ea124b1c-174d-4387-b404-cbb2247b365f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_2ad5ff15-6326-4c2d-b629-fc4029d94684" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_2ad5ff15-6326-4c2d-b629-fc4029d94684" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_9b0b06aa-d5d8-4cbe-9ffc-c9106904c324" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_9b0b06aa-d5d8-4cbe-9ffc-c9106904c324" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b6ecf1e1-d6d6-4c6a-b19f-46b43a3fbcf0" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b6ecf1e1-d6d6-4c6a-b19f-46b43a3fbcf0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_cc9f9f62-5b58-4373-a459-61be699ad79a" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_cc9f9f62-5b58-4373-a459-61be699ad79a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_8f1ff344-10ad-4ca6-b8f7-a9797db9facb" 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_b13d7b19-5c28-41c8-9b0b-8e43c9c69e41" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_8f1ff344-10ad-4ca6-b8f7-a9797db9facb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
