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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2020 Workiva-->
<!--r:1b05c35e-c04f-441d-9239-b1b7435d71dc,g:22693879-e39e-4c57-abca-eef07885d52e-->
<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-20201027.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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" 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_4537f67f-2b3f-4da5-8d2a-75b5568408f7" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_4537f67f-2b3f-4da5-8d2a-75b5568408f7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_e21a3358-5af0-4fec-80c5-fd7382eeb4e0" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_e21a3358-5af0-4fec-80c5-fd7382eeb4e0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_ea834dcd-b2eb-4975-8cbb-f6bc5f8db08f" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_ea834dcd-b2eb-4975-8cbb-f6bc5f8db08f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_8bc7324e-9f79-4d44-9add-dd70c5dcc072" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_8bc7324e-9f79-4d44-9add-dd70c5dcc072" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_fa484e42-3612-47e0-a68b-4479bf9cc254" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_fa484e42-3612-47e0-a68b-4479bf9cc254" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_8a173674-422c-4d3d-bc5a-4ff92ac9a162" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_8a173674-422c-4d3d-bc5a-4ff92ac9a162" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_2f9c97c8-54bd-4f3c-b208-7f2ce3181c79" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_2f9c97c8-54bd-4f3c-b208-7f2ce3181c79" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_7ef1461e-c37b-471b-a8ff-346c941ce267" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_7ef1461e-c37b-471b-a8ff-346c941ce267" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_bcf86488-d0f9-4031-9ffb-6e409332f663" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_bcf86488-d0f9-4031-9ffb-6e409332f663" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_c8a4e59a-7299-4c50-b47d-82b0d27e652a" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_c8a4e59a-7299-4c50-b47d-82b0d27e652a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_8b545535-08cf-4464-b440-ef5f6a0dca0a" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_8b545535-08cf-4464-b440-ef5f6a0dca0a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_660c23cd-a10a-4331-b6b3-f012c7835098" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_660c23cd-a10a-4331-b6b3-f012c7835098" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_6a051b35-75ff-4a9a-94f4-3f582411ccc6" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_6a051b35-75ff-4a9a-94f4-3f582411ccc6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_6fa13753-edc5-4a6f-8bd5-ca293c24c943" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_6fa13753-edc5-4a6f-8bd5-ca293c24c943" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_57c93d99-914a-4eac-ad1f-20d840918068" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_57c93d99-914a-4eac-ad1f-20d840918068" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_09f489e2-af72-4e59-b697-28afa2ab37a2" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_09f489e2-af72-4e59-b697-28afa2ab37a2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_bf8254e8-1688-4423-ae29-3a50b631cd4c" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_bf8254e8-1688-4423-ae29-3a50b631cd4c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9caeeee5-6529-4c32-a4a9-bbe482dac50b" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9caeeee5-6529-4c32-a4a9-bbe482dac50b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_b448630e-e25a-4ecd-ac96-f45ba6618b36" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_b448630e-e25a-4ecd-ac96-f45ba6618b36" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_f7235418-5ac2-482e-917e-62db536be369" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_f7235418-5ac2-482e-917e-62db536be369" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_ce58648c-d702-4c19-b94c-1b7834f5014d" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_ce58648c-d702-4c19-b94c-1b7834f5014d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1b90f4a0-6a7c-4e1a-9a1e-12f8f4410115" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1b90f4a0-6a7c-4e1a-9a1e-12f8f4410115" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_cdf7e620-569e-42f0-a540-9cc7fbf1761e" 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_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_cdf7e620-569e-42f0-a540-9cc7fbf1761e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_b45b734a-602a-4d34-8778-1c2b5517423b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="24" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_9b68d1fe-3d5e-456b-a1a9-3c63d39badd5" xlink:to="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_b45b734a-602a-4d34-8778-1c2b5517423b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
