The invention relates to a method for detecting free gases in a stratum. In the method, an exploratory well and a development well are used. The method comprises the following steps of: carrying out 
well logging in the exploratory well and the development wall to obtain 
well logging data; then calculating the Lame constant and the 
shear modulus of an underground rock stratum according to the 
well logging data; taking the Lame constant, the 
shear modulus and the density as 
hydrocarbon detection factors and determining threshold values of the 
hydrocarbon detection factors; and directly detecting gases, such as free 
natural gas, 
carbon dioxide and the like with economic values, in the stratum, by using the 
hydrocarbon detection factors and the threshold values thereof. The method disclosed by the invention is applied to certain 
coal bed gas exploration area and used for detecting superficial free 
natural gas reservoir stratums which interdependent and coexistent with 
coal bed gas. The method disclosed by the invention is used for detecting superficial 
free gas reservoirs by using the well 
logging data observed in the well and has the advantages of 
low observation environment 
noise, reliable data and easiness in implementation. When the invention is implemented, field 
engineering cost is not increased generally; even the field 
engineering cost needs to the increased, the increased cost is the acquisition cost of 
transverse wave speed at most. Therefore the invention has the advantages of low cost.