POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR EXECUTING
FORM ID, FORMS 3, FORMS 4 AND FORMS 5, FORM 144
AND SCHEDULE 13D AND 13G

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Eric Christ and John Foley of Midstates Petroleum
Company, Inc., with full power of substitution, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1) Execute for and on behalf of the undersigned a Form ID (including amendments thereto), or
any other forms prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, that may be
necessary to obtain codes and passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the forms referenced in clause (2)
below;

(2) Execute for and on behalf of the undersigned (a) any Form 3, Form 4 and Form 5 (including
amendments thereto) in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (b) Form 144 and (c) Schedule 13D and Schedule
13G (including amendments thereto) in accordance with Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the
Exchange Act, but only to the extent each form or schedule relates to the undersigned's
beneficial ownership of securities of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. or any of its
subsidiaries;

(3) Do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned that may be necessary
or desirable to complete and execute any Form ID, Form 3, Form 4, Form 5, Form 144,
Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (including amendments thereto) and timely file the forms or
schedules with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or
quotation system, self-regulatory association or any other authority, and provide a copy as
required by law or advisable to such persons as the attorney-in-fact deems appropriate; and

(4) Take any other action in connection with the foregoing that, in the opinion of the attorney-
in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of or legally required of the undersigned, it
being understood that the documents executed by the attorney- in-fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in the form and shall contain the
terms and conditions as the attorney-in-fact may approve in the attorney-in-fact's
discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to the attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all
and every act requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights
and powers granted herein. The undersigned acknowledges that the attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming (nor is Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.
assuming) any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

The undersigned agrees that the attorney-in-fact may rely entirely on information furnished orally or in
writing by or at the direction of the undersigned to the attorney-in-fact. The undersigned also agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and the attorney-in-fact against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in these respects) that arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statements or omissions of necessary facts in the information provided by or at the direction of
the undersigned, or upon the lack of timeliness in the delivery of information by or at the direction of
the undersigned, to the attorney-in fact for purposes of executing, acknowledging, delivering or filing a
Form ID, Form 3, Form 4, Form 5, Form 144, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (including amendments
thereto) and agrees to reimburse Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and the attorney-in-fact on
demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or
defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to
file Form ID, Form 3, Form 4, Form 5, Form 144, Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G (including amendments
thereto) with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by Midstates
Petroleum Company, Inc., unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
attorney-in-fact. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any other power of attorney that the
undersigned has previously granted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of the date
written below.

/s/ James R. Hart
James R. Hart

November 16, 2012
Date

Hart James R. 4