<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII"?>
<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!-- -->
<link:linkbase xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" 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">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.oxy.com/role/CoverPageDocument" xlink:href="crc-20190828.xsd#CoverPageDocument" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedNetLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedNetLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTerseLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTerseLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTotalLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTotalLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/netLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/net-2009-12-16.xsd#netLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.oxy.com/role/CoverPageDocument" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_CE5D5138A417C77AF818D5267CA86686" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="1" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_CE5D5138A417C77AF818D5267CA86686" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_97100A9567C2B8BD0BEED5267CA8499F" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="2" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_97100A9567C2B8BD0BEED5267CA8499F" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_82B429467D3FDDD5227AD5267CA9FFDB" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="3" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_82B429467D3FDDD5227AD5267CA9FFDB" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_3B064F54537E682A2F2BD5267CA9A668" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="4" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_3B064F54537E682A2F2BD5267CA9A668" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_05166C83DAFD770D669FD5267CA95B7C" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="5" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_05166C83DAFD770D669FD5267CA95B7C" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_1ED53C22FC8D7803809BD5267CA9FE48" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="6" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_1ED53C22FC8D7803809BD5267CA9FE48" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_49D7CC9013956657504CD5267CA93EC7" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="7" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_49D7CC9013956657504CD5267CA93EC7" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_183AF20F6415A6E6D230D5267CAABFAB" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="8" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_183AF20F6415A6E6D230D5267CAABFAB" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_86CF61BBC21F7D8A0C23D5267CAA00FE" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="9" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_86CF61BBC21F7D8A0C23D5267CAA00FE" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_FD00B37AB1C24A6F32BED5267CAA4750" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="10" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_FD00B37AB1C24A6F32BED5267CAA4750" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_F1FFFBA711D0278555E7D5267CAFE4CA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="11" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_F1FFFBA711D0278555E7D5267CAFE4CA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_7737408395796A7F0C94D5267CB125F9" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="12" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_7737408395796A7F0C94D5267CB125F9" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_A0D0B8C597CD2E4AFCC8D5267CB1C1DA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="13" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_A0D0B8C597CD2E4AFCC8D5267CB1C1DA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_93E91B4088C7E55D0C94D5267CB12EC9" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="14" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_93E91B4088C7E55D0C94D5267CB12EC9" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_9221687B9B35C1AD28CAD5267CB10CFA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="15" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_9221687B9B35C1AD28CAD5267CB10CFA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_33A7088753FD808DFE8AD5267CB15938" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="16" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_33A7088753FD808DFE8AD5267CB15938" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_49BB9F10BF12C7A89942D5267CB1B81E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="17" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_49BB9F10BF12C7A89942D5267CB1B81E" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_F0F3CD27E38DB5E2676CD5267CB11FD5" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="18" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_F0F3CD27E38DB5E2676CD5267CB11FD5" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2F03FCD4E8351AE4431CD5267CB1CECA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="19" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2F03FCD4E8351AE4431CD5267CB1CECA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_BB3A67718CF8A7103D90D5267CB1EF5D" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="20" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_62B446341BC068CACE24D5267CA57993" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_BB3A67718CF8A7103D90D5267CB1EF5D" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
