She was specifically hired by Wallace Pratt to design a subsurface laboratory which works to show the development of petroleum and natural gas as well as other minerals.

In just a few months after opening the laboratory, she made a major discovery of foraminifera in one of the company's wells at Goose Creek.

Her study of foraminifera indicated Oligocene-aged coral reefs on the Damon Mound salt dome in Brazoria County.

Yet, the four could only conclude their findings only by the research of Ellisor herself, as well as her co authors Esther Applin and Hedwig Kniker.

[3] Alva C. Ellisor continued to be influential on her own, having her work published by many well known geology organizations in The United States.

Ellisor engaged in acts of philanthropy throughout her career, donating money and her 3000 volume geologic library to the University of Texas.