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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019e2bfd-4070-78e0-ab3a-18bf7d476921,g:f141987f-7fcb-412e-b365-8655037fd39d-->
<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://sm-energy.com/role/Coverpage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sm-20260805.xsd#Coverpage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://sm-energy.com/role/Coverpage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_019e2bfd-4070-7cd1-90f0-6d53fc91753b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_019e2bfd-4070-7cd1-90f0-6d53fc91753b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019e2bfd-4070-75d9-8f1e-6a9520a18470" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019e2bfd-4070-75d9-8f1e-6a9520a18470" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019e2bfd-4070-7447-a04c-e9a4deace3d8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019e2bfd-4070-7447-a04c-e9a4deace3d8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_019e2bfd-4070-734a-970f-8b935ba44244" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_019e2bfd-4070-734a-970f-8b935ba44244" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7a42-a3c4-9c64c3cd2bee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7a42-a3c4-9c64c3cd2bee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7bd7-88e4-6909d413a2ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7bd7-88e4-6909d413a2ec" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_019e2bfd-4070-77c5-b6d9-88cf3f05ab9c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_019e2bfd-4070-77c5-b6d9-88cf3f05ab9c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_019e2bfd-4070-7ccc-9304-ff13c2fdedbd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_019e2bfd-4070-7ccc-9304-ff13c2fdedbd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_019e2bfd-4070-7799-93cd-db5ae20e70c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_019e2bfd-4070-7799-93cd-db5ae20e70c8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_019e2bfd-4070-7bed-aeed-84729ab9e0f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_019e2bfd-4070-7bed-aeed-84729ab9e0f0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_019e2bfd-4070-738b-9c6e-5b68a95e18d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_019e2bfd-4070-738b-9c6e-5b68a95e18d3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_019e2bfd-4070-7b3f-86ec-a5800fc2515a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_019e2bfd-4070-7b3f-86ec-a5800fc2515a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7ab2-aaf6-cda5e75b8727" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_019e2bfd-4070-7ab2-aaf6-cda5e75b8727" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_019e2bfd-4070-746b-9b70-ce56774d93e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_019e2bfd-4070-746b-9b70-ce56774d93e2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_019e2bfd-4070-7eb7-8f94-cb7c02823a5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_019e2bfd-4070-7eb7-8f94-cb7c02823a5d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_019e2bfd-4070-75f8-809f-6efa3abd7026" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_019e2bfd-4070-75f8-809f-6efa3abd7026" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_019e2bfd-4070-7b66-9ed9-8d9cac9c5a6b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_019e2bfd-4070-7b66-9ed9-8d9cac9c5a6b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_019e2bfd-4070-7b8d-bc02-dce1e4959741" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_019e2bfd-4070-7b8d-bc02-dce1e4959741" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_019e2bfd-4070-7d92-b513-1f3ed0b26f4b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_019e2bfd-4070-7d92-b513-1f3ed0b26f4b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_019e2bfd-4070-7427-9452-563eee6c64a9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_019e2bfd-4070-7427-9452-563eee6c64a9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_019e2bfd-4070-77f0-9965-04ba8b7eda40" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_019e2bfd-4070-77f0-9965-04ba8b7eda40" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019e2bfd-4070-7c97-a027-9a87a04a2f6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019e2bfd-4070-7c97-a027-9a87a04a2f6e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019fce5b-5d3b-7f94-80a2-504b4c1a4a21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019e2bfd-4070-7162-9fc1-34e5bc31fc9c" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019fce5b-5d3b-7f94-80a2-504b4c1a4a21" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
