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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:b8f0912e-d634-46b5-9643-bfa8509dcb0b,g:3f22bad9-2039-4458-af6f-dec637c7a736-->
<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-20210120.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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" 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_e85acc49-ef30-4bbc-bda2-b3f883007115" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_e85acc49-ef30-4bbc-bda2-b3f883007115" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_990023f7-1c06-4d6e-afee-7ddce2940bec" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_990023f7-1c06-4d6e-afee-7ddce2940bec" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_a9bdace0-e465-49ac-849f-4be8453ebdf0" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_a9bdace0-e465-49ac-849f-4be8453ebdf0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_0c80a607-cda1-4b8c-95b5-e51ea6ccb414" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_0c80a607-cda1-4b8c-95b5-e51ea6ccb414" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_78f447f9-a6f2-4447-ba7f-dc3e4c9f0602" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_78f447f9-a6f2-4447-ba7f-dc3e4c9f0602" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_927eba45-72da-4711-a21c-faa18f3d57ab" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_927eba45-72da-4711-a21c-faa18f3d57ab" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_d3c984d3-9009-4630-abca-a85ceef32b8e" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_d3c984d3-9009-4630-abca-a85ceef32b8e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_b3bca7c1-34f1-4113-aef5-f45e1061f4d1" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_b3bca7c1-34f1-4113-aef5-f45e1061f4d1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_cf7fb0b4-5e04-498b-ae8b-c34fd29debbb" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_cf7fb0b4-5e04-498b-ae8b-c34fd29debbb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_c6a891ff-a329-416e-9e94-4bd67f10b5e7" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_c6a891ff-a329-416e-9e94-4bd67f10b5e7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_87d27d07-1a5c-4209-bcdb-04345b3408e5" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_87d27d07-1a5c-4209-bcdb-04345b3408e5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_fa2bf6b5-d6c5-470d-a239-09db2e337656" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_fa2bf6b5-d6c5-470d-a239-09db2e337656" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_015b6123-bc75-44b3-ad1f-db1d03a55c51" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_015b6123-bc75-44b3-ad1f-db1d03a55c51" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_24f84a8e-3a2b-42ca-83ad-228ac80029bc" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_24f84a8e-3a2b-42ca-83ad-228ac80029bc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_2527d3f9-27d0-406a-841a-7e9fc7f3eb11" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_2527d3f9-27d0-406a-841a-7e9fc7f3eb11" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_07b42956-ba38-44b3-8093-66b087e67647" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_07b42956-ba38-44b3-8093-66b087e67647" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_63f80057-16ba-434b-9927-2bf76549b803" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_63f80057-16ba-434b-9927-2bf76549b803" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_abbbb61a-1676-4ff8-85be-f74947f9fdd1" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_abbbb61a-1676-4ff8-85be-f74947f9fdd1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_3fb3d613-4d2d-405f-b544-9115cb1b389a" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_3fb3d613-4d2d-405f-b544-9115cb1b389a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_003230ab-ff0e-43f2-a798-488837cb7cca" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_003230ab-ff0e-43f2-a798-488837cb7cca" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_1143e413-4e4f-4839-9dff-944ebe6b3578" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_1143e413-4e4f-4839-9dff-944ebe6b3578" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_6d25241d-2958-4dda-8020-955667a09b27" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_6d25241d-2958-4dda-8020-955667a09b27" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2febb876-48a8-4ab7-8c13-58b5c1422e39" 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_dd409df8-9ebd-40df-bc54-10dcf71b8960" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_2febb876-48a8-4ab7-8c13-58b5c1422e39" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
