Exhibit 23

                       Consent of Independent Accountants

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-55978) of The Hanover Compressor Company of
our report dated June 21, 2002 relating to the financial statements of The
Hanover Companies Retirement Savings Plan, which appears in this Form 11-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas
June 27, 2002