<?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-20200630.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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" 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_C71B6766412987AE887E05CFF8C882FC" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_C71B6766412987AE887E05CFF8C882FC" 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_711C4443F03297D3542605CFF8C9BBEC" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_711C4443F03297D3542605CFF8C9BBEC" 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_C5BF2846E4D17AAE111105CFF8C95060" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_C5BF2846E4D17AAE111105CFF8C95060" 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_31B4995888D8A194DDEC05CFF8C90E6C" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_31B4995888D8A194DDEC05CFF8C90E6C" 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_D2ADD98F4F28694D3E9805CFF8C967D5" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_D2ADD98F4F28694D3E9805CFF8C967D5" 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_A41E41B691ED6D00DF4705CFF8C9D026" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_A41E41B691ED6D00DF4705CFF8C9D026" 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_080397D17B56352BBB9505CFF8C9ECE4" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_080397D17B56352BBB9505CFF8C9ECE4" 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_738FF8D49C8FB28CA21205CFF8CA8D57" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_738FF8D49C8FB28CA21205CFF8CA8D57" 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_FCC46BDA62269F61D43505CFF8CA6F84" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_FCC46BDA62269F61D43505CFF8CA6F84" 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_1A1FE78195E61DF5F28005CFF8CA8544" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_1A1FE78195E61DF5F28005CFF8CA8544" 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_93BBF618DA38804C99F505CFF8CA3BD4" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_93BBF618DA38804C99F505CFF8CA3BD4" 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_DADD59C83A94915132DB05CFF8CA0637" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_DADD59C83A94915132DB05CFF8CA0637" 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_03FBA609FBA020CCDC2505CFF8CA1DAB" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_03FBA609FBA020CCDC2505CFF8CA1DAB" 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_B45A97FA36D5AF6FA44805CFF8CBB3CF" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_B45A97FA36D5AF6FA44805CFF8CBB3CF" 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_0A32CF19F2AB917C662905CFF8CB700E" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_0A32CF19F2AB917C662905CFF8CB700E" 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_CC1367A972C73D875D1F05CFF8CBC4CD" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_CC1367A972C73D875D1F05CFF8CBC4CD" 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_D01F65437BD0E8C1435005CFF8CBA0C6" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_D01F65437BD0E8C1435005CFF8CBA0C6" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ED3DB65EC6F0BD4B06CC05CFF8CB19DC" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_ED3DB65EC6F0BD4B06CC05CFF8CB19DC" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_4683B532719C5931DF1E05CFF8CB74EE" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_4683B532719C5931DF1E05CFF8CB74EE" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_064C2092861C1722AA9205CFF8CC59EC" 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_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_064C2092861C1722AA9205CFF8CC59EC" 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_12C5C747C61E724B269B05CFF8CC565C" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="21" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_12C5C747C61E724B269B05CFF8CC565C" 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_E80293E67C63C572594C05CFF8CCBC9B" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="22" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_E80293E67C63C572594C05CFF8CCBC9B" 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_26B39D7462E63884ADBB05CFF8CC31E9" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="23" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_F1734D818D1A6859D1E905CFF8C82526" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_26B39D7462E63884ADBB05CFF8CC31E9" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
