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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.81

                               HOLDINGS GUARANTEE

     HOLDINGS GUARANTEE, dated as of December 3, 2001, made by HANOVER
COMPRESSOR COMPANY (the "Guarantor"), in favor of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent") for the lenders (the "Lenders")
parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of December 15, 1997 and amended and
restated as of December 3, 2001, (as may be further amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among the
Guarantor, Hanover Compression Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited
partnership (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, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to
continue to make their respective Loans to the Borrower under the Credit
Agreement that the Guarantor 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 Guarantor hereby agrees 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.

     (b) 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 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

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Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement or this Agreement or any
other Loan Document).

     (c) 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.

     (d) 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 2(b), the
Guarantor hereby, 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.

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

     (c) The 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, the 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.

     (d) The Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time
to time exceed the amount of the liability of the Guarantor hereunder without
impairing this Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder.

     (e) No payment or payments made by the Borrower, the Guarantor, any other
guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, 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 the Guarantor hereunder which shall,
notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than payments made by the
Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments received or collected from
the Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain liable for the Obligations
up to the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder until the Obligations are
paid in full and the Commitments are terminated.

     3. Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes each Lender at any
time and from time to time without notice to such Guarantor, any such notice
being expressly waived by the Guarantor,


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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.

     4. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by the
Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of the Guarantor by
any Lender, the Guarantor shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the
rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or any
collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by any Lender for the
payment of the Obligations, nor shall the 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 the 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.

     5. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. The
Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any
reservation of rights against the Guarantor and without notice to or further
assent by the 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

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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 the Guarantor, the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to,
make a similar demand on the Borrower or the 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 any
release of the Borrower or such other guarantor shall not relieve the Guarantor
in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or the Guarantor not so
released of its 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 the Guarantor. For the
purposes hereof "demand" shall include the commencement and continuance of any
legal proceedings.

     6. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. The 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 the Guarantor, 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. The Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for
payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or the
Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. The 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 the 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 the Guarantor and its
successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees
and assigns, until

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all the Obligations and the obligations of the 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.

     7. 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 the 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 the Guarantor or any
substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had
not been made.

     8. Payments. The 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.

     9. Representations and Warranties. The 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 with respect to this Guarantee or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby, which would reasonably be expected to have a material

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adverse effect on the business, operations, property or financial or other
condition of such Guarantor.

     10. Authority of Administrative Agent. The 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 the Guarantor shall not be under
any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

     11. Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the 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 when delivered by hand or if
by overnight courier service, when received or if given by mail, when deposited
in the mails by certified mail, return receipt requested, or 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 the Guarantor, at its address or transmission number for notices
set forth under its signature below.

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

     12. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed by the Guarantor 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 the Guarantor shall be lodged with the
Administrative Agent.

     13. 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.

     14. Integration. This Guarantee represents the agreement of the 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.

     15. 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 the Guarantor and
the Administrative Agent,

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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.

     (b) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act
(except by a written instrument pursuant to paragraph 15(a) 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.

     (c) 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.

     16. 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.

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

     18. Governing Law. This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed and
interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 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 COMPRESSOR COMPANY

                            By:________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

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