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                                                                      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, 2000 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 April 3, 2001.



                                            /s/ Richard L. Robinson
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Richard L. Robinson, Director


<PAGE>   2


                                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, 2000 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 April 2, 2001.



                                            /s/ T. W. Gamel
                                            -------------------------
                                            Thomas W. Gamel, Director



<PAGE>   3



                                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, 2000 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 April 5, 2001.



                                            /s/ Robert J. Malone
                                            --------------------------
                                            Robert J. Malone, Director





<PAGE>   4



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         I, the undersigned officer and 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, 2000 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 April 3, 2001.



                                            /s/ Charles D. Unruh
                                            --------------------------
                                            Charles D. Unruh, Director





<PAGE>   5



                                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, 2000 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 April 3, 2001.



                                            /s/ Joseph A. Hutchinson
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Joseph A. Hutchinson, Director





<PAGE>   6



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         I, the undersigned officer and 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, 2000 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 April 3, 2001.



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