OTHER BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION - Other Long-Term Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
OTHER INFORMATION
Compensation-related liabilities	$ 31	$ 38
Postretirement and pension benefit plans	57	59
Lease liability	35	37
Premiums due on derivative contracts	49	5
Other	6	6
Other long-term liabilities	$ 178	$ 145

Lease, Liability, Noncurrent

No definition available.

Name:	crc_LeaseLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	crc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Other Information abstract

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crc_OtherInformationDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	crc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Premiums Received On Derivative Contracts, Noncurrent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crc_PremiumsReceivedOnDerivativeContractsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	crc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements payable beyond one year (or the operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityClassifiedNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability, recognized in statement of financial position, for defined benefit pension plan, classified as noncurrent. Excludes other postretirement benefit plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(24))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123453770&loc=d3e1731-114919

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123453770&loc=d3e1703-114919

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expenses incurred but not yet paid classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liabilities classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant