<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned director of United States Exploration, Inc., do hereby
constitute and appoint Bruce D. Benson and F. Michael Murphy, or either of them,
to be my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, and in my name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Dated this March 28, 2002.


                                        /s/ Richard L. Robinson
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Richard L. Robinson, Director
<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned director of United States Exploration, Inc., do hereby
constitute and appoint Bruce D. Benson and F. Michael Murphy, or either of them,
to be my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, and in my name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Dated this March 20, 2002.


                                        /s/ Thomas W. Gamel
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Thomas W. Gamel, Director
<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned director of United States Exploration, Inc., do hereby
constitute and appoint Bruce D. Benson and F. Michael Murphy, or either of them,
to be my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, and in my name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Dated this February 28, 2002.


                                        /s/ Robert J. Malone
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Robert J. Malone, Director
<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned director of United States Exploration, Inc., do hereby
constitute and appoint F. Michael Murphy to be my true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2001 and
any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in connection therewith and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Dated this March 27, 2002.


                                        /s/ Bruce D. Benson
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Bruce D. Benson, President, Chief
                                        Executive Officer, and Chairman of
                                        the Board of Directors