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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:bd707e4c-d70c-4f19-8dde-d7ad8a64134a,g:9b93d197-236c-45f1-a014-a25ba7875cb8-->
<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-20220803.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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_8a72c4ab-c993-4eaf-bfd9-d48ecb11a3d9" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_8a72c4ab-c993-4eaf-bfd9-d48ecb11a3d9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5e8a4f30-e365-4edd-b4c4-8459d5634811" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5e8a4f30-e365-4edd-b4c4-8459d5634811" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_06e384a5-a1c3-4bc2-bf5f-cb36cc294dd7" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_06e384a5-a1c3-4bc2-bf5f-cb36cc294dd7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_f3064b92-2d67-43c9-be94-5388b49e1b35" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_f3064b92-2d67-43c9-be94-5388b49e1b35" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_e8a93eb7-deec-4ac8-8149-1ae3e508cf3d" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_e8a93eb7-deec-4ac8-8149-1ae3e508cf3d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_d5bf8643-4dfa-4939-9ae7-965f36b9f6f6" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_d5bf8643-4dfa-4939-9ae7-965f36b9f6f6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_1707389d-53a5-4498-b1ce-d6f0b2c29280" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_1707389d-53a5-4498-b1ce-d6f0b2c29280" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_fb1dcd30-227e-4679-873f-40e3166c5638" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_fb1dcd30-227e-4679-873f-40e3166c5638" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_aaf21865-0870-4ba3-9294-1edb8aeb7be6" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_aaf21865-0870-4ba3-9294-1edb8aeb7be6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01df24c3-fa80-4d93-a6a3-40a5bd3322eb" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01df24c3-fa80-4d93-a6a3-40a5bd3322eb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_5e2df5cd-1092-4d38-8d76-edd4e5ded531" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_5e2df5cd-1092-4d38-8d76-edd4e5ded531" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_bdfec298-9120-4f95-b172-231fc01d63f7" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_bdfec298-9120-4f95-b172-231fc01d63f7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_d87bc7fe-0a8b-426f-96f7-a7d1a70f5355" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_d87bc7fe-0a8b-426f-96f7-a7d1a70f5355" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_f1f69725-f747-40c1-946e-9577cd44ca12" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_f1f69725-f747-40c1-946e-9577cd44ca12" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_2fb5855a-e1da-4e44-aa2c-1b9ad1c83ad0" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_2fb5855a-e1da-4e44-aa2c-1b9ad1c83ad0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_8f5644f0-a6fa-4b27-abe7-3ba50ec3b867" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_8f5644f0-a6fa-4b27-abe7-3ba50ec3b867" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_b48ef4b1-354f-444c-a482-caa02bf69242" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_b48ef4b1-354f-444c-a482-caa02bf69242" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_30bfadc2-f5f7-4d1f-8046-3a33463e3d46" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_30bfadc2-f5f7-4d1f-8046-3a33463e3d46" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_0f2b938c-263b-4ee1-b8b2-c00abe4628fb" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_0f2b938c-263b-4ee1-b8b2-c00abe4628fb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_4f3ad40b-46a5-4780-a5ea-912ded5c6713" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_4f3ad40b-46a5-4780-a5ea-912ded5c6713" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_4bb2bdc2-5b87-4bc9-ae23-c6d462f49cb3" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_4bb2bdc2-5b87-4bc9-ae23-c6d462f49cb3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_78b6817a-3b0e-40b2-b557-5ed1ad044ba6" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_78b6817a-3b0e-40b2-b557-5ed1ad044ba6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_674eebf3-8b58-41a2-a8db-4073e57e9794" 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_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_674eebf3-8b58-41a2-a8db-4073e57e9794" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_82d50a28-ab25-4c0c-aadd-5b5f1f8f37ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="24" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f948ca0b-1324-46eb-93e1-1f6aa7ad943e" xlink:to="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_82d50a28-ab25-4c0c-aadd-5b5f1f8f37ab" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
