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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.31

                        FORM OF SUBSIDIARIES' GUARANTEE


         SUBSIDIARIES' GUARANTEE, dated as of December 15, 1997, made by each
of the corporations that are signatories hereto (the "Guarantors"), in favor of
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative
Agent") for the lenders (the "Lenders") parties to the Credit Agreement, dated
as of December __, 1997, (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Hanover Compressor Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent.


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have severally
agreed to make Loans to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth therein, to be evidenced by the Notes issued by the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement;

         WHEREAS, each Guarantor is a Qualified Subsidiary of the Borrower;

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Loans will be used in part to enable the
Borrower to make valuable transfers (as determined as provided herein) to some
of the Guarantors in connection with the operation of their respective
businesses;

         WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders
to make their respective Loans to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement that
the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guarantee to the
Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders.


         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to
induce the Lenders to make their respective loans to the Borrower under the
Credit Agreement, the Guarantors hereby agree with the Administrative Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as follows:

         1. Defined Terms.  (a)  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined
in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them
in the Credit Agreement.

         (a)  As used herein, "Obligations" means the collective reference to
the unpaid principal of and interest on the Notes and all other obligations and
liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
(including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate
provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and interest
accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the
filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency,
reorganization or like
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proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or
post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the
Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the other Loan Documents or
any other document made, delivered or given in connection therewith, whether on
account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities,
costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are
required to be paid by the Borrower or the Guarantor pursuant to the terms of
the Credit Agreement or this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

         (b)  The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Guarantee shall refer to this Guarantee as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Guarantee, and section and paragraph
references are to this Guarantee unless otherwise specified.

         (c)  The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

         2.  Guarantee  (a)  Subject to the provisions of paragraph a, each of
the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably,
guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders
and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt
and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due (whether at the
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations.

         (a)  Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary
notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be
guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating
to the insolvency of debtors.

         (b)  Each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all expenses
(including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel) which
may be paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in enforcing,
or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or
collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with
respect to, or collecting against, such Guarantor under this Guarantee.  This
Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations are paid
in full and the Commitments are terminated, notwithstanding that from time to
time prior thereto the Borrower may be free from any Obligations.

         (c)  Each Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and
from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor
hereunder without impairing this Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder.
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         (d)  No payment or payments made by the Borrower, any of the
Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, any of the
Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or
proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from
time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed
to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor
hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than
payments made by such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments
received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain
liable for the Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor
hereunder until the Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are
terminated.

         3.  Right of Contribution.  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the
extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of
any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and
receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder who has not
paid its proportionate share of such payment.  Each Guarantor's right of
contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5 hereof.
The provisions of this Section shall in no respect limit the obligations and
liabilities of any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and
each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

         4.  Right of Set-off.  Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default,
each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes each Lender at any time and from
time to time without notice to such Guarantor or any other Guarantor, any such
notice being expressly waived by each Guarantor, to set-off and appropriate and
apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any
currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the
credit or the account of such Guarantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as
such Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and
liabilities of such Guarantor to such Lender hereunder and claims of every
nature and description of such Lender against such Guarantor, in any currency,
whether arising hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, any Note, any Letter of
Credit or any Loan Document, as such Lender may elect, whether or not the
Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand for payment and although
such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured.  The
Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify such Guarantor promptly of
any such set-off and the application made by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and application.  The rights of the Administrative
Agent and each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the
Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.

         5.  No Subrogation.  Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by
any of the Guarantors hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any
of the Guarantors by any
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Lender, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or any other
Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by
any Lender for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or
be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any
other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until
all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower
on account of the Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are
terminated.  If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such
subrogation rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been
paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly
indorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be
applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as
the Administrative Agent may determine.

         6.  Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations; Waiver of
Rights.  Each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that,
without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to
or further assent by any Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the
Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by
such party and any of the Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the
liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral
security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may,
from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended,
modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Credit Agreement, the Notes and the
other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in
connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in
whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders, as the
case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security,
guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived,
surrendered or released.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall
have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time
held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Guarantee or any
property subject thereto.  When making any demand hereunder against any of the
Guarantors, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no
obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other Guarantor or
guarantor, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make
any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other
Guarantor or guarantor or any release of the Borrower or such other Guarantor
or guarantor shall not relieve any of the Guarantors in respect of which a
demand or collection is not made or any of the Guarantors not so released of
their several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or
affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender against any of the Guarantors.  For the
purposes hereof "demand" shall include the commencement and continuance of any
legal proceedings.
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         7.  Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional.  Each Guarantor waives any
and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the
Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee, the
Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been
created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in
reliance upon this Guarantee; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or
consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee.  Each Guarantor waives diligence,
presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to
or upon the Borrower or any of the Guarantors with respect to the Obligations.
Each Guarantor understands and agrees that this Guarantee shall be construed as
a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to
(a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any
Note or any other Loan Document, any of the Obligations or any other collateral
security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any
time or from time to time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (b)
any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or
performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by the
Borrower against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (c) any other
circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower
or such Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an
equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower for the Obligations, or of such
Guarantor under this Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other instance.  When
pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the
Administrative Agent and any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to,
pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the
Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to pursue such other rights or remedies or
to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other Person or to
realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such
right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person or any
such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve such
Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights
and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders against such Guarantor.  This Guarantee
shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to
the extent of its terms upon each Guarantor and the successors and assigns
thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns,
until all the Obligations and the obligations of each Guarantor under this
Guarantee shall have been satisfied by payment in full and the Commitments
shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of
the Credit Agreement the Borrower may be free from any Obligations.

         8.  Reinstatement.  This Guarantee shall continue to be effective, or
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof,
of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or
returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any
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Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor
or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any
Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though
such payments had not been made.

         9.  Payments.  Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments
hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or
counterclaim in U.S. Dollars at the office of the Administrative Agent located
at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

         10.  Representations and Warranties.  Each Guarantor hereby represents
and warrants that:

         (a)  it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the
corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its
property, to lease the property it operates and to conduct the business in
which it is currently engaged;

         (b)  it has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to
execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guarantee, and
has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery
and performance of this Guarantee;

         (c)  this Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected
by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium
and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally, general equitable principles and an implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing;

         (d)  the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee will
not violate any provision of any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation
of such Guarantor and will not result in or require the creation or imposition
of any Lien on any of the properties or revenues of such Guarantor pursuant to
any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of the Guarantor;

         (e)  no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or
in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any
other Person (including, without limitation, any stockholder or creditor of
such Guarantor) is required in connection with the execution, delivery,
performance, validity or enforceability of this Guarantee;

         (f)  no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any
arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such
Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or against any of its
properties or revenues (1) with respect to this Guarantee or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, (2) which would reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, property or
financial or other condition of such Guarantor.
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         11.  Authority of Administrative Agent.  Each Guarantor acknowledges
that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this
Guarantee with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the
exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, right,
request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or
arising out of this Guarantee shall, as between the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, be governed by the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements
with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between
the Administrative Agent and such Guarantor, the Administrative Agent shall be
conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders with full and valid
authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Guarantor shall be under any
obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

         12.  Notices.  All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Guarantor to be effective shall be in
writing (or by telex, fax or similar electronic transfer confirmed in writing)
and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (1) when delivered by hand
or (2) if by overnight courier service, when received or (3) if given by mail,
when deposited in the mails by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (4)
if by telex, fax or similar electronic transfer, when sent and receipt has been
confirmed, addressed as follows:

         (a)  if to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, at its address or
transmission number for notices provided in subsection 11.2 of the Credit
Agreement; and

         (b)  if to any Guarantor, at its address or transmission number for
notices set forth under its signature below.

         The Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Guarantor may change
its address and transmission numbers for notices by notice in the manner
provided in this Section.

         13.  Counterparts.  This Guarantee may be executed by one or more of
the Guarantors on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.  A set of the counterparts of this Guarantee signed by all the
Guarantors shall be lodged with the Administrative Agent.

         14.  Severability.  Any provision of this Guarantee which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         15.   Integration.  This Guarantee represents the agreement of each
Guarantor with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises
or representations by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the
subject matter hereof not reflected herein.
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         16.   Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.  (a)
None of the terms or provisions of this Guarantee may be waived, amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by
each Guarantor and the Administrative Agent, provided that any provision of
this Guarantee may be waived by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in a
letter or agreement executed by the Administrative Agent or by telex or
facsimile transmission from the Administrative Agent.

         (a)  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act
(except by a written instrument pursuant to paragraph 16 hereof), delay,
indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy
hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any
breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof.  No failure to exercise, nor
any delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof.  No
single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege.  A waiver by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as
a bar to any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender
would otherwise have on any future occasion.

         (b)  The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be
exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or
remedies provided by law.

         17.  Section Headings.  The section headings used in this Guarantee
are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction
hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

         18.  Successors and Assigns.  This Guarantee shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their successors and assigns.

         19.  Governing Law.  This Guarantee shall be governed by, and
construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
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                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this
Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as
of the day and year first above written.

 HANOVER/SMITH, INC.                         HANOVER MAINTECH, INC.


 By                                          By
   --------------------------------            --------------------------------
   Name:                                       Name:
   Title:                                      Title:

 Address for Notices:                        Address for Notices:
 12001 North Houston Rosslyn                 12001 North Houston Rosslyn
 Suite 350                                   Suite 350
 Houston, Texas 77086                        Houston, Texas 77086
 Attn:  Chief Financial Officer              Attn: Chief Financial Officer
 Fax:  281-447-8781                          Fax: 281-447-8781



 HANOVER LAND COMPANY


 By
   --------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:

 Address for Notices:
 12001 North Houston Rosslyn
 Suite 350
 Houston, Texas 77086
 Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
 Fax: 281-447-8781