Dunno about him and his poetry, but the above is total bollix. Nickel is a metallic element with one kind of atom. Ni. Methane is a molecular gas made of nothing but carbon and hydrogen atoms. C and H.   Not exactly interchangeable, huh, even by very very very clever bacteria.

Ever heard of a catalyst? I am not specifically aware that nickel (in context) is, but yes bacteria are clever in that they evolve a lot faster than us. Ask a scientist before discrediting the possibilities.

As Donald Rumsfeld said about unknown knowns - someone has probably observed something we did not! Or will convert your unknown unknown soon.

Someone posted recently, in this parish, about nickel rash, so it is not totally inert. and first on the web search is Nickel Catalysts