An AR (Augmented Reality) head-mounted display could overlay computer-generated image to the real world. With AR head-mounted display, the users can see the real world overlaid with digital data. In the past decade, the AR technology developed from research laboratory to widely available commercial technology has gradually become available in a number of application areas such as medical, manufacturing, industrial design, entertainment, marketing, and military fields. This paper presents a history of the milestones in AR display development in the past 5 years, and also reviews some cases study of successful AR applications in oil and gas industry and the impact. In view of the application of AR technology in the engineering design of oil and gas surface facilities, the application prospects in field station facilities design, pipeline routing design and technical support during site construction are discussed. Because of its ability to provide real-time information, AR is a promising application for the entire life cycle of oil and gas field surface facilities from design to operation and maintenance, and will occupy a prominent place in the digital transformation of the oil and gas industry.