<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="crc-20220803.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001609253</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-08-03</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-08-03</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF80L2ZyYWc6N2U4M2I1NGNhYzZkNGI0MWIyNjdjNzRhNWRkYjI0MDEvdGFibGU6NDM4ZWU3ZTI2YzIwNDQ1MDkxMWY3M2Y2MjAyOWFmZmIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0MzhlZTdlMjZjMjA0NDUwOTExZjczZjYyMDI5YWZmYl8yLTEtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_a35bcde8-8c55-4ccf-85c7-e522d189f628">0001609253</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF80L2ZyYWc6N2U4M2I1NGNhYzZkNGI0MWIyNjdjNzRhNWRkYjI0MDEvdGFibGU6NDM4ZWU3ZTI2YzIwNDQ1MDkxMWY3M2Y2MjAyOWFmZmIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0MzhlZTdlMjZjMjA0NDUwOTExZjczZjYyMDI5YWZmYl8zLTEtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_76c96997-7521-425e-ae4d-059f732b4887">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjY3_a3732edd-c3a8-410c-8ffd-c08308eb3707">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8yNzA_f506fdc5-0acb-4a65-92e7-5a6dcaad794c">2022-08-03</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjcx_9e22fee0-b2c3-41e0-bf0c-ac08f0ceee2d">California Resources Corp</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY18wLTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_b6c34024-0846-431b-aa51-4f1da4d27f50">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY18wLTEtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_20dca3a7-43cb-4d14-be69-0d02687a9dc2">001-36478</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY18wLTMtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_75fa2263-b7d4-4bf6-b63d-ab2e3a8fd4bf">46-5670947</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY18zLTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_4a5d76b2-4d9a-43a2-ae43-758f17734a5e">1 World Trade Center</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY180LTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_63dd2322-3f48-40db-a374-97cb41bfa83c">Suite 1500</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY181LTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_e605a6ab-69b0-42ac-b884-320701961ca7">Long Beach</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY182LTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_f3fd42b3-2cf4-4981-8caa-bb1aca49b75c">CA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6OTM2YWFiM2ExMjMzNDU1MTk1OTQ5OTBhYzM2ZGU0MGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MzZhYWIzYTEyMzM0NTUxOTU5NDk5MGFjMzZkZTQwY182LTItMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_4ad44489-c696-4764-ab22-b78178da008d">90831</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjY4_2b2269d2-99ad-4c06-a534-89938526463b">888</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjY5_3935dcf6-4bcb-4e26-828a-5c84db684a77">848-4754</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjcy_b373634b-1df4-4a68-88eb-7bcc3d161cb6">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjcz_4e26193e-77d6-4d3d-814e-18e8b0408da5">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjc0_f74aeaa4-1483-4843-8a52-1542ee1bd95e">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjcw_0f785fac-2db6-4499-a88e-9a0ab237eafc">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6YmJkMTBiZjJmMDFkNGUwOGJiYzhjM2I4YTRkMDk1Y2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiYmQxMGJmMmYwMWQ0ZTA4YmJjOGMzYjhhNGQwOTVjZl8xLTAtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_8da4233a-d251-4102-ba18-8ebbc922fc2d">Common Stock</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6YmJkMTBiZjJmMDFkNGUwOGJiYzhjM2I4YTRkMDk1Y2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiYmQxMGJmMmYwMWQ0ZTA4YmJjOGMzYjhhNGQwOTVjZl8xLTEtMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_2c4413b6-9e6d-4395-9df2-559daa8b33b5">CRC</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGFibGU6YmJkMTBiZjJmMDFkNGUwOGJiYzhjM2I4YTRkMDk1Y2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiYmQxMGJmMmYwMWQ0ZTA4YmJjOGMzYjhhNGQwOTVjZl8xLTItMS0xLTEwMjc3Ng_6f3a1d93-e54f-46f5-a0a9-00246a0884c0">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i1c759e2c32d143b0ad9eedf673bbd3aa_D20220803-20220803"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjI5OGZlNDY4MTM5NDQ5NWNhNmYxMDFiYjQ3ZjhmYTU4L3NlYzoyOThmZTQ2ODEzOTQ0OTVjYTZmMTAxYmI0N2Y4ZmE1OF8xL2ZyYWc6ZTQzM2Y2OTE4ZWM2NGI1ZmE0MDkyNDc3NThhNjdlNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjplNDMzZjY5MThlYzY0YjVmYTQwOTI0Nzc1OGE2N2U1Yl8xNjc1_bec8e4fc-38eb-47cd-acb9-aa91b20345a2">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
